Indians across America and Canada started to speak out against a new t-shirt sporting the Indian God, Ganesha.
August 3, 2005 (Press Release) --
Starting a month ago, Indians across America and Canada started to speak out against a new t-shirt sporting the Indian God, Ganesha with a slogan imprinted on the back rear area reading Handsome Elephant (product id#Y52JH318). Being fed up with the lack of response from Guess?, a petition has been started demanding a public apology from Guess? and their company’s commitment to pull the product off the shelf, remove the images from their website and to implement a policy to check with the community before launching designs that are offensive to certain ethnic communities. The petition can be found online at http://www.petitiononline.com/Ganesha/petition.html.
Renu Dalal-Jain, CEO of Flair Consulting, an image consulting firm in Philadelphia, notes, “I’m appauled at the lack of response by Guess. Their publicist, Ms. Weber said that she would bring this up to Guess?, Inc. executives. When she was told the issue involved a tank top, she quickly noted that if it’s only a tank top, it’s probably not going to be in stores too long anyway. Her message to Indians is clear; don’t bother with this issue, it will disappear anyways. This is a total disregard for social responsibility.”
With locations across America in major cities like Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and Las Vegas, Guess?, Inc. states on their website that they are committed to listening and responding to the needs of customers, associates, and business partners, and to honoring their individual value. Additionally, they promote that they give back to the community, support humanity, and protect the environment as part of their responsibilities. And lastly, they claim to embrace diversity, and cultivate strength, pride, and passion to align their personal lives with their professional lives. It seems like their company mission words might not reflect their actions as this is the second serious conflict with a major ethnic community in the past few months. If their sole purpose is to gain attention, they are doing this effectively although at a cost paid for by their South Asian clientele, business partners and South Asians worldwide.
“Let’s not allow big business to shatter the ethnic threads of society in America, in Canada and around the globe. Guess must learn to embrace diversity and live up to their very own mission. Personally, I won’t be wearing or purchasing any Guess? Products until there is a resolution. I encourage others to do so too. ” Adds Publicist and Indian Activist, Diana Rohini La Vigne of San Mateo, California.
With a combined disposable income of $88 billion, consumer savvy marketers make Asian Americans a very attractive market. South Asians are an economic power that Guess?, Inc. shouldn’t look to offend if they want to achieve growth in the U.S. market. According to the 2000 United States of America census, the population of Indian Americans in the United States is 1.67 million with an average income of $71,000, which is $20,000 more than the average American family income. Currently, Indian Americans are the wealthiest ethnic group in the United States and perhaps if Guess can’t remove the t-shirts for ethical reasons, they might find some extremely compelling economical reasons to remove them.
Renu Dalal-Jain, CEO of Flair Consulting, an image consulting firm in Philadelphia, notes, “I’m appauled at the lack of response by Guess. Their publicist, Ms. Weber said that she would bring this up to Guess?, Inc. executives. When she was told the issue involved a tank top, she quickly noted that if it’s only a tank top, it’s probably not going to be in stores too long anyway. Her message to Indians is clear; don’t bother with this issue, it will disappear anyways. This is a total disregard for social responsibility.”
With locations across America in major cities like Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and Las Vegas, Guess?, Inc. states on their website that they are committed to listening and responding to the needs of customers, associates, and business partners, and to honoring their individual value. Additionally, they promote that they give back to the community, support humanity, and protect the environment as part of their responsibilities. And lastly, they claim to embrace diversity, and cultivate strength, pride, and passion to align their personal lives with their professional lives. It seems like their company mission words might not reflect their actions as this is the second serious conflict with a major ethnic community in the past few months. If their sole purpose is to gain attention, they are doing this effectively although at a cost paid for by their South Asian clientele, business partners and South Asians worldwide.
“Let’s not allow big business to shatter the ethnic threads of society in America, in Canada and around the globe. Guess must learn to embrace diversity and live up to their very own mission. Personally, I won’t be wearing or purchasing any Guess? Products until there is a resolution. I encourage others to do so too. ” Adds Publicist and Indian Activist, Diana Rohini La Vigne of San Mateo, California.
With a combined disposable income of $88 billion, consumer savvy marketers make Asian Americans a very attractive market. South Asians are an economic power that Guess?, Inc. shouldn’t look to offend if they want to achieve growth in the U.S. market. According to the 2000 United States of America census, the population of Indian Americans in the United States is 1.67 million with an average income of $71,000, which is $20,000 more than the average American family income. Currently, Indian Americans are the wealthiest ethnic group in the United States and perhaps if Guess can’t remove the t-shirts for ethical reasons, they might find some extremely compelling economical reasons to remove them.
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