Popstar Beyonce was outraged to discover that H&M bosses wanted to downsize her famous curves in their beachwear collection.
The singer ordered the brand to only use natural photos of her modelling their bikinis after she found out they had been retouched.
The 31-year-old signed a multimillion dollar deal to be the face of the high street label's summer 2013 swimwear collection.
Scroll down for video
Outraged: Popstar Beyonce, pictured in an unedited campaign photo, was outraged to discover that H&M bosses wanted to downsize her famous curves in their beachwear collection
Anger: 'When Beyonce found out they had edited the way her body really looked, she hit the roof,' an insider revealed today
'When Beyonce found out they had edited the way her body really looked, she hit the roof.
'She’s a true diva and was furious that she had been given such a snubbing. Her people refused to give the pictures the green light so H&M were forced to use the originals,' an insider told the Sun.
A H&M spokesman told the newspaper that there had been 'discussions' about the photos.
But he confirmed the final published pictures, which haveappeared in bikini and beachwear adverts worldwide, were not doctored.
Promoting the brand: The superstar was enlisted by the high street label to help drive sales
Vamping it up: Beyoncé parades around in a number of skimpy bikinis as part of the new campaign
Fashion for everyone: U.S. size 12 model Jennie Runk appears in images for H&M's new beachwear collection online
He added: 'As with all campaigns there are discussions on which images should be used. Both H&M and Beyonce are very happy with the final result.'
Yesterday the CEO of H&M admitted that the company has used models that are too skinny in the past.
Reflecting on the ongoing debate about too-thin models, Karl-John Persson admitted today in an interview with Metro that the fast fashion chain had 'a huge responsibility'.
'I don’t think we’ve always been good,' he said. 'Some of the models we've had have been too skinny.
That’s something we think a lot about and are working on. We want to show diversity in our advertising and not give people the impression that girls have to look a particular way.'
As Mr Persson explains: 'I believe that the models in our advertising should look sound and healthy. There are models who're too thin or obviously underweight, but there are also those who're just thin, and they’re the ones we should keep working with, as long as they look sound and healthy.'
This week the singer came under fire for continuing to be being the face of the clothing giant as more damaging allegations emerge about conditions its works endure overseas.
But the 31-year-old has been criticised for continuing to represent the clothing giant as damaging revelations emerge about its suppliers in Asia.
Director of the Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights Charles Kernaghan told Star that working conditions at two factories he had audited in Bangladesh that produced H&M clothes were ‘ridiculous.’
Damaging: The 31-year-old has been criticised for continuing to represent the clothing giant as damaging revelations emerge about its conduct in Asia
'There was child labor, people were being beaten, cheated of their wages — and wages were very, very low,' Mr Kernaghan said.
H&M is the largest single buyer of Bangladeshi garments and imports about $1.5 billion (around £9.4million) of readymade clothes from the country, according to trade officials.
Mr Kernaghan claimed there was sexual harassment in the sweatshops, as 'male supervisors would constantly press young women to have sex with them.'
Fair Trade Campaigns Director for Green America Elizabeth O’Connell believes the singer, who gave birth to daughter Blue Ivy last year, should have taken a stand when the revelations emerged.
'Beyoncé has more power than she knows … she could have agreed to continue only if H&M agreed to change the working conditions of its overseas garment factories, Ms O’Connell said.
'Celebrities should look past the dollar signs and become aware of what the company is actually selling.'
Last week 23 workers were injured in a partial building collapse in Cambodia at a factory which produced H&M garments.
Europe’s second-biggest clothing retailer said the garments were produced at the factory without its knowledge or approval.
It issued a statement saying 'Our investigation has revealed that H&M garments have been produced in the mentioned unit. This has been done without our knowledge by a supplier which is approved by H&M. This is not acceptable, since we have a clear policy that all production has to take place in units approved by H&M.
H&M has met with the supplier and we have met with the factory Top World Garment. We have demanded our supplier to fulfill their responsibility, and the supplier has agreed to take full responsibility for the affected textile workers’ situation.'
Low-cost labour has attracted manufacturers making clothes and shoes for Western brands but strikes over pay and working conditions have become common.
This month, two workers in Cambodia were killed at a factory making running shoes for Asics when part of a warehouse fell in on them. Police revised down the original death toll of three given by a minister.
No comments:
Post a Comment