Sunday, 18 July 2010

Rodarte collection - MAC, what were you thinking?

There has been a lot of controversy over the collaboration between MAC and the fashion house Rodarte, to be released in Autumn 2010.

The promotional image of the collection is of a pale caucasian woman with a ghostly complexion and darkened eyes. The inspiration, according to the designers, was 'the ethereal nature of this landscape' following a road trip they took in Texas from El Paso to Marsa. Which all sounds lovely, until you look at some of the names of the collection; pigments and eyeshadows called Badlands, Bordertown and Sleepwalker, lipsticks called Ghost Town and Sleepless, and, most controversially, nailpolishes called Factory and Juarez.

Juarez is a Mexican border town plagued by the drugs trade. After the 1994 NAFTA, several US companies set up factories (Maquilas) in Juarez, which tend to employ mostly female workers. The factory supervisors may state that this due to the nimble and dextrous fingers women have, and perhaps it's just a happy coincidence that female workers are more likely to accept low pay and poor working conditions, as well as being less likely to form or join unions. So, you have a situation where it's difficult for men to find legal employment in a traditionally macho society, and one where tension already runs high due to the crime and violence the drugs trade brings.

In this melting pot of tension between the genders, violence against women has increased in a horrific way. Not only were women being murdered, they were being raped and tortured beforehand, before their bodies were dumped, often out in the open. Many of the disappeared were adolescents and young women, and many were workers in the Maquilas, whose travel during the night due to shift patterns makes them particularly vulnerable to abduction.

You can read more about this issue here: http://www.amnestyusa.org/amnestynow/juarez.html

One of the products is named Quinceanera, which is the Mexican coming of age celebration for a young woman. I find this particularly distasteful in the context of both the 'look' and the rest of the collection, considering that many of the young women murdered will never have reached this celebration. MAC may claim that this collection is highlighting the situation in Juarez, but a collection based around ghostly pale faces and darkened eyes does not seem to me to be a particularly sensitive way of bringing attention to the troubles there.

I can't believe that MAC didn't see the fuss coming. The cynic in me suspects they knew the furore the names would cause but thought that the buzz would just heighten interest in the collection, and that consumers would be distracted by the 'OMG pretty!' make-up and forget or forgive the dubious 'inspiration'. If that is the case, I sincerely hope they've underestimated their target audience.

You can read other bloggers' thoughts on this issue at:

www.beautymouth.com
www.mizzworthy.blogspot.com
www.britishbeautyblogger.com
www.bangsandabun.com  
www.ladyofthelane.com
www.big-fashionista.blogspot.com
www.vexinthecity.com
www.sofarsochic.co.uk
www.lesalondebeaute.blogspot.com
www.getlippie.com
www.londonbeautyqueen.blogspot.com
www.makeuploveer.blogspot.com
www.sparklesandbows.blogspot.com
Posted by Grace London at 20:00
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25 comments:

  1. This is an all time low. Using these names and the plight of these women for a collection is frankly tasteless. Badly done MAC.
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  2. Disgusted. If they really wanted to make a collection about Marfa they would have designed it after the famous Marfa Lights not the horrible plight of these women in Juarez. It's an all time low.
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  3. Totally agree with your last paragraph in particular.
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  4. Agree with everything you said. Esp the last bit. They take it for granted that their clients are barbie types with IQs as low as fishes and that we wont notice certain things.. wrong. Very tasteless!!
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  5. Great post - I am disgusted with the wayh this whole thing has been handled by MAC. I've been asked on twitter if I'll be boycotting MAC forever? Personally, I think that is missing the point somewhat. I'm disgusted with this collection - I'm not blaming MAC, or Rodarte for the atrocities there, but rather for the fact that something much more positive could have come out of it. I'll be boycotting this collection for sure. I have also posted onmy blog about the issues if you fancy a look...
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  6. I agree with everything you said. And MAC mentioned in their statement regarding this issue, that "it was not their intent to offend the customers with the names." I mean, what exactly was their intent? Because if they wanted to raise awareness and help these women from the start, they would have clearly talked about it before and their collection release would definitely mention that a portion of the sales would go to an organization helping the women in Juarez. So obviosuly, helping those in need was not a part of the initial plan. Thank you for writing this post!
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  7. Sadly I think they may be right if they think the "omg pretty" factor would ensure their sales of this and sadly I seriously doubt that they have underestimated their target consumer - we'd like to think that all mac customers are all clued up adults who can research this issue and make our own decisions, but they KNOW that's not the case, and they know that at present they can do nothing that will damage their sales.

    I've never liked MAC and own just one item (Lillicent cream blush). I won't be replacing it when it runs out.
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  8. Fantastic post, you put it so well.

    It's atrocious that Rodarte & MAC are doing this, they can't be allowed to get away with it.
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  9. spent all night reading all these blog posts! yours is very well written too! im so pleased we are all raising awareness on this topic! I find it sad that MAC are making money from others misery and the promo image is so creepy!

    you can read my view here:

    http://bit.ly/baiPm6

    www.perfectly-polished-nails.com

    X
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  10. There is a good movie, Bordertown, with JLo that deals with these factory murders
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  11. Well written. MAC must think they're untouchable to launch a collection like this. They should donate the entirety of their profits - not just a portion - to these women in need to atone for this monstrous behaviour.
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  12. Thanks for this post. Women in Latin America suffer violence (any kind of it) daily. And what happen in Juarez is horrid...but making money out of the pain is even worst.
    I am not a MAC consumer, and after this, they are definitively NOT getting my money.
    However I am a bit curious to see how the little girls that buy makeup and post hauls in Youtube (I am a bit annoy by their "emptiness", for lack of better words) would have any opinion at all about this. Can MAC open theirs eyes to another reality? I doubt it, they should read the opinions of bloggers like yourself.
    Thanks again a a big hug.
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  13. I've already vented on British Beauty Blogger, so I'll be brief. Making up a model to resemble a cadaver leads me to believe that Rodarte and MAC knew exactly what they were doing when they developed their marketing strategy. Unfortunately, instead of coming across as cool and edgy, they've come across as ignorant and callous. I think this particular collection should be boycotted.
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  14. I'm very, very impressed that beauty bloggers have organised to coordinate the presentation of this important message in defiance of a large corporation. Power to you.

    And screw Mac. They're not getting any of my money. Disgusting.
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  15. Wow, I'm really shocked that MAC would be so surprised that people are offended by this collection.
    Tasteless....with obviously not much thought.
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  16. After reading a few more blogs on this subject I came across Temptalia, whose readership is at the younger end of the market as Lucia mentioned. I'd suggest reading the many comments there to find out why MAC are not at all ruffled by this.

    There are a few mentions of how the range is distasteful but they are variously told to "keep politics off the boards", "relax" and "It's just a name" (for a nailpolish), Many others stick to the packaging and how many items they will buy. Simply "WANT" seems to be a standard post. In the poll more voters like it than not.

    Although it all leaves a very bad taste in the mouth of us older purchasers we're not the ones who support this company - Young girls who are incapable of making the connections which would enable them to make an informed decision are.

    MAC were sure enough of themselves to go ahead with this and from a marketing point of view they were not wrong. As for the people who worked on it, was it just another angle on 'goth' to them?
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  17. Hi Joolz - I know, I also suspect the collection will sell. I hope this co-ordinated action by bloggers means that more people will at least be making an informed decision on whether they choose to buy it or not.

    To me, it would be like creating a Chinese themed collection and calling a product in it Nanking. There are places that you just shouldn't go.
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  18. Hello Grace,

    I am glad that you actually brought up the matter. Yes, and if MAC will ever get inspiration of the Nanking massacre, I think I will ever be so disgusted and probably boycott them. I am not a Latin so I can't exactly understand the whole sentiments. But using the Nanking massacre and having them in comparison...I think I can somewhat get a grasp.

    Pity those pretty colours...that's one horrible marketing strategy.
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  19. Hi Poseylass - thank you so much for your comment. I really hesitated to use the analogy, but think it illustrates that some situations are so horrible that it is wrong to draw 'inspiration' from them for clothing/cosmetics.
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  20. Really good work Grace (and all the other bloggers)! I had no idea at all, and I think the whole MAC move is just despicable!
    Inspiration is certainly NOT the word that comes to mind...cynical exploitation (including of the anticipated backlash I'm afraid) is more like it in my opinion.
    Well, not with my money...
    Nina
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  21. This is plain awful!! How come no-one at the MAC office noticed how inappropriate that is?! I am so glad that so many bloggers post about this issue and I can't get over the fact that they're promoting the "just murdered-chic"!!
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  22. Wonderful post. I have written about this travesty on my blog too:

    http://susysmakeupbox.blogspot.com/2010/07/mac-rodarte-controversy.html

    Hopefully MAC and Rodarte will wake up and realise that the only way to get out of the hole they have dug themselves into, is to donate all the money to charity.
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  23. Thanks, Grace, for your post and link to the information at Amnesty International. Thank you to all the bloggers who have jumped on board and said NO to this hideous launch. This is indeed akin to launching a line based on the holocaust or any other genocide. It is disgraceful. I have been buying MAC products since the beginning of the line - over 25 years and I have to say I am ashamed at this corporate GREED that has overshadowed the original fun products developed by the "two Franks", the MAC founders. I am so glad so many bloggers have spoken out. MAC has said they will donate a portion of the proceeds to a charity. Do they not see how ludicrous this statement is. "Buy our product named for human suffering and degradation and we will donate a portion of our greedy profits to make everything better. How disgusting! I hope a few corporate heads have rolled over this debacle and they can see how "ethereal" it is having no job. Thanks again, Grace, for your excellent post and to all the bloggers who have spoken out.
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  24. Hi Grace London,

    Bravo for writing on this topic. I am shocked that MAC and Rodarte have been so callous.

    Since the initial furore, both companies have released statements that I think have shown they've missed the point.

    Changing names and donating money does not erase the gross insensitivity they showed. Nor does it do anything towards resolving the true situation.

    I'll stop here but I have some very strong feelings about the relationship between America and Mexico and the unspeakable crimes in the border towns. I hope to live to one day see a better life for everyone not just those north of the Rio Grande.
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  25. Very well put, everyone. I actually read the Temptalia boards on this subject before reading any other beauty blogs, and I was shocked with the blase attitude of so many of those posters. It is heartening to see all of you speaking out on this critical issue.
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