There is a new Mac Collection on it's way. A collaboration with fashion house Rodarte. The products, to my tastes, look super pretty, in fact from the little I've seen, I want it all.
(Image courtesy of Temptalia)
But behind the sacharine sweetness of that beautiful looking lipgloss lies a far darker story. Product names are things like Factory, Juarez, Ghost Town, Softly Drifting, Sleepwalker...if this hasn't got alarm bells ringing for you yet, then like me yesterday, you must be unaware of the situation in Juarez.
100's or 1000's (depending on which source you believe) of women have died in Juarez since 1993. Juarez is in Northern Mexico and is famous, for want of a better word, for these murders. Bad enough that this was ever turned into a fashion line, but now a cosmetics line. A cosmetic line inspired by the abduction, torture and murder of women. Now I'm not going to dwell on what is going on in Juarez, there are fabulous resources if you want to learn more, and I highly recommend http://www.chicanafeliz.com/Juarez/AMR4102703.pdf
I have conflicting thoughts about this collection. Firstly, I think it should never have come into being in the first place. Secondly, I object to the product names. However, now it's here, I don't think it should be withdrawn. Until I heard about this yesterday I had never heard about the atrocities going on and have since been thoroughly educated, I spent two hours reading about it last night and today have read more and watched videos too. I view the silver lining of this cloud as a raising of awareness. If the collection bought the issue to my attention, then it will do so for others. I do not however believe this was the intention.
Plenty of people have complained and as such, both Rodarte and Mac have issued statements which are below.
‘M·A·C Cosmetics Statement:
We understand that product names in the M·A·C Rodarte collection have offended some of our consumers and fans. This was never our intent and we are very sorry. We are listening carefully to the comments posted and are grateful to those of you who have brought your concerns to the forefront of our attention. M·A·C will give a portion of the proceeds from the M·A·C Rodarte collection to help those in need in Juarez. We are diligently investigating the best way to do this. Please be assured that we will keep you posted on the details regarding our efforts.’
'Rodarte Statement:
Our makeup collaboration with M·A·C developed from inspirations on a road trip that we took in Texas last year, from El Paso to Marfa. The ethereal nature of this landscape influenced the creative development and desert palette of the collection. We are truly saddened about injustice in Juarez and it is a very important issue to us. The M·A·C collaboration was intended as a celebration of the beauty of the landscape and people in the areas that we traveled."
I have objections with both of these statements. Re Mac's statement, I don't think a portion of the proceeds going to help the situation in Juarez is enough. All profits shoudl be given. As someone said to me, quite correctly, they can afford it. I find the Rodarte statement laughable. A celebration of the landscape and people? That's a joke right? The collection names alone are evidence that that the products are inspired by murders. Ghost Town, Sleep Walking, Factory (read up on the subject to understand the relevance of this). And lets have a little look at the promo pic shall we?
So a corpse like model stood next to a shadowy ghost of a figure.... but of course, thats just inspired by the landscape! I just wonder who they are trying to kid?
So will I buy? In all likelihood no, because I'm skint, I will be watching to see what happens in terms of donations to aid the situation. I'm hoping for all profits to be donated instead of a shoddy "portion". I differ from many in that I hope this collection is not withdrawn, as I simply think this is superb for raising awareness, even though that was not, I believe, the intention. I would also like to see some products renamed. Eyeshadows and nail varnishes should not be named after atrocities.
So to summarise. Tasteless collection, ill thought out, but now it's out there, there are opportunities to correct the wrongs by raising awareness, changing product names to be less offensive and by raising funds. Lets just hope the parties involved do the right thing.
I'm not the only blogger posting my views on this today, lots of us have something to say, albeit slightly differing opinions but generally all disapproving, try this lot:
www.beautymouth.com
www.mizzworthy.com
www.britishbeautyblogger.com
www.bangsandabun.com
www.big-fashionista.blogspot.com
www.vexinthecity.com
www.sofarsochic.co.uk
www.londonmakeupgirl.com
www.lesalondebeaute.com
www.getlippie.com
www.londonbeautyqueen.blogspot.com
www.kraseybeauty.com
www.makeuploveer.blogspot.com
www.the6inchstilettos.blogspot.com
www.sparklesandbows.blogspot.com
www.healingbeauty.co.uk
www.reallyree.blogspot.com
www.just-nice-things.co.uk
www.makeupadviceforum.com
http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/
Also if it's no bother could you add me to the list of bloggers :)
ReplyDeleteFee x
Really well put - like you say it has created huge awareness (but a well thought out campaign would of done that and more) but create awareness definitely wasn't MAC's plan!
ReplyDeleteIt would of been great to see all the proceeds donated right from the start but this will never happen as it will basically mean MAC admitting they have stuffed up big time!
But the percentage donated should be a high amount that is for sure.
I really do hope beauty bloggers that do purchase the collection won't mention the products by name but by product type or shade. Which would be possible as the range is fairly small.
Great post.
Fee x
When I see that 'Bordertown' shadow pan I swear I just see blood. I think it's revolting, not beautiful. They can't deny what they were using as their inspiration when they created it.
ReplyDeleteYes, this leaves me conflicted too, I think the beauty powder really is gorgeous, but I think the best we can hope for is that some good does come out of this, even if it is through the back door, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteIf they had even named the products in tribute after the women killed - it would be bearable...
ReplyDeleteLunacy. Sheer utter lunacy.
Great post. xx
hey great post..really good comments. hoping MAC and indeed..Rodarte..might want to offer some continuing support to women of Juarez.
ReplyDeleteGreat post - not only to yourself, but to all the other fantastic articles written tonight.
ReplyDeleteOne thing we feel is that people are asking the names to be changed - however we would argue that just because a sticker is being re-preinted, it doesn't take away from appalling choices made throughout the whole process. If an eyeshadow has been "inspired" by this horrific scenario, does changing it's name to something less offence suddenly mean the product becomes acceptable? If a customer is uncomfortable buying an item because of the names association - yet would happily consider purchasing after a re-branding, then we feel pretty confused. There are so many upsetting levels to this situation, it saddens us to think people see it simply as an issue with the product titles.
Words are beginning to fail me on this matter.
ReplyDeleteThe only good thing about this, as yourself and Fee say, is the amount of awareness created and number of people educated about what is going on over there.
The rest... disgusting.
In my opinion I hope customers either boycott the collection unless MAC give all proceeds to aid the issues facing people there.
(Hope you don't mind have linked my blog to this post)
xx
Great post Charlie, i completely agree with you on all the points made.
ReplyDeleteComplete fail MAC and Rodarte
Just want to make clear that comment wasn't in relation to what you had written in your fantastic post. It was in response to opinions we have read on other blogs in which customers were stating that they would happily purchase the entire product range if the items were re-named. Which, to us, just doesn't make any sense.
ReplyDeleteSuch an ill conceived collection. The products, names and promotional shots make a lie of the suggestion that the collection was inspired by the landscape!
ReplyDeletespent all night reading all these blog posts! yours is very well written too! im so pleased we are all raising awareness on this topic! everyone has done a fab job at voicing their opinions on this matter
ReplyDeleteyou can read my view here:
http://bit.ly/baiPm6
www.perfectly-polished-nails.com
X
I've never been on the MAC bandwagon myself so I wouldnt ever be interested in the products. I think that the entire thing has been grossly mismanaged and I cannot believe that a company would be so arrogant as to think that it's consumers might not find this ever so slightly distasteful.
ReplyDeleteFantastic post hunny. Very well written and very informative. Well done.
ReplyDeletexxx
I want to thank everyone for their comments, ir really means a lot to me.
ReplyDeleteBeauty Bite - I wanted to say to you in particular that the names themselves are offensive to me, probably because I don't think they were inspired at all. I think they were named purely to shock... the eyeshadow, for example might be beautiful and if called something else, I'd find it considerably more paletable because I don't really believe that a shadow was actually inspired by anything... I'm not phrasing this well at all... I think I'd better get mopre coffee and come back!
OMG! I thought I was alone with my impression on this collection. When I first saw it at temptalia's site, just the picture gave me the creeps (I closed it right away). Now reading the inspiration of this collection and the actual names on the products, gave me the goosebumps.
ReplyDeletethat picture looks creepy, i dont like it
ReplyDeleteWonderful post. I have written about this travesty on my blog too:
ReplyDeletehttp://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.
I am Mexican, i am from the border (not Juarez), i am very much aware of the situation in Juarez and I AM OFFENDED... i find it in poor judgment, bad taste .... Appalling.
ReplyDeleteTrying to raise awareness thru a lipgloss and blush named "factory", "bordertown"? With skeletal looking models representing the battered women? Really? Had the FASHION industry lost that much touch with reality? with ppl and social issues?
As you said "Bad enough that this was ever turned into a fashion line, but now a cosmetics line. A cosmetic line inspired by the abduction, torture and murder of women."