Chinese public figures ditch western brands as Xinjiang row escalates

Chinese celebrities and politicians were racing to distance themselves from western brands as Beijing stepped up a campaign to penalise those making accusations of abuses in Xinjiang, including fashion companies that boycott the region’s cotton.

Burberry was one high-profile target, as the award-winning actor Zhou Dongyu ended her “brand ambassador” role, the company’s hallmark tartan was scrubbed from a popular video game, and a Hong Kong lawmaker shared a widely mocked photograph of herself staring mournfully at a trio of scarves she promised not to wear again.

Some brands including Muji and Fila responded to the boycotts by underlining their commitment to using cotton from Xinjiang, a reminder of China’s importance as one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets for fashion.

Source: The Guardian #Mar26

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/26/chinese-actor-quits-as-burberry-ambassador-as-xinjiang-cotton-row-escalates?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

#China #XinjiangCotton #Xinjiang #Burberry #Muji #Fila