Local retail brand draws flak from netizens for using ‘Caucasian’ models

A local retail brand drew netizens’ attention for the wrong reason when it promoted winter products with Caucasian models.

Image: Screen grab via Facebook/@smaccessoriesPH

“It’s a very White Christmas for this local brand!” noted a Twitter user.

Image: Screen grab via Twitter

This led to netizens questioning why winter clothing was being promoted in a tropical country in the first place.

Image: Screen grab via Twitter
Image: Screen grab via Twitter

The brand’s official account responded that OFWs and tourists purchase their winter clothing in the Philippines.

Image: Screen grab via Twitter

A netizen quipped that the models bore similarity to the cast of the Wes Anderson film “The Royal Tenenbaums.”

Image: Screen grab via Twitter

The account also explained the choice of Caucasian models and stated that there was “diversity” as they cast “Filipinos, Brazilians, Canadians and [from] other far-flung places in Europe. The goal was for them to look alike.”

Image: Screen grab via Twitter

However, some still wondered why models didn’t look more like Filipino customers.

Image: Screen grab via Twitter

INQUIRER.net tried to reach SM for comment, but has not received a response as of writing. /ra

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