Adriana Lima Donna Karan Ads For Spring 2012: Are They Misguided? (PHOTOS)

Adriana Lima looks smolderingly gorgeous in her new set of ads for Donna Karan's spring 2012 line.

Karan's collection was informed by her charity work: she hatched the idea for the ads after spending copious amounts on time in Haiti after the island was tragically struck by an earthquake last year .

Russell James photographed Lima in the Southern Haiti town of Jacmel, who posed in black-and-white dresses and other pieces inspired by local artist Philippe Dodard from Karan's new collection. In one of the ads, Lima stares down the camera with her trademark glare as some Haitian kids pose, huddled together, in the background.

And that's where the controversy starts.

As Global Grind notes, there's a note on the right of the ad explaining that the kids are local Haitians, which helps ameliorate the initial appearance that the kids are merely being used as "props."

But still, with Lima (who's Brazilian and has a lighter skin tone) posing in front of the darker-skinned children, some people are suggesting that the Karan ad has racist undertones.

One commenter, identified only as "Anonymous," writes on Fashion Gone Rogue: "Am I the only one getting racist/imperialistic vibes from the second image? I know the inspiration is Haiti but it's unsettling imo." Another, labeled Kid, writes: "While Adriana looks fierce and mybe a bit too fierce the other people in the picture looks sort of scared. I get from the picture a not so sweet relationships between the white girl and the black people."

And the ads bring up a familiar thorny issue: the ethnic diversity of Brazil and how it's reflected (or not reflected) on the catwalk. This year, protestors at Sao Paulo Fashion Week demanded that 20 percent of the runway models be of indigenous and black descent, in order to represent Brazil's diverse ethnic makeup. (Leggy blondes like Gisele are the minority in such a melting pot of a country.)

"Brazil has more people of African descent than any country outside of Africa, half the population is said to be either black or mixed race," notes the BBC, citing designers and citizens alike who are campaigning for Brazil to up its quota of racially diverse models.

While we're sure the photos in these ads weren't intended to convey anything insidious, the arrangement of the first shot does seem a little misguided.

Are people getting wound up about nothing? Check out the photos below (the controversial one is on top) and decide for yourself.

Comments

[Ericka Basile]

10:50 AM on 05/24/2012

Those are NOT "children" in the first image. They are grown men!! How is it that no one else sees this? The fact that they are being called kids only further adds to the uncomfortable feeling i am getting from this image. Is this 1962? And we are calling black men, boys?

[kivain71]

08:49 AM on 12/19/2011

If this is intended to make me want to buy the clothes, it does not. They are ugly on Lima and if they are ugly on her, they would be ugly on anyone. The clothes look like garbage bags draped on a beautiful woman and my momma taught me long ago that "ladies" don't sit that way! Why would a woman as beautiful as Lima pose like a tramp wearing garbage bags and frightening children?

As for the first ad, I am more bothered by the look of fear on the childrens' faces than anything else. If you put white children in the same pose, same look, I'd still be offended by it. Poor children shoved in a corner looking scared of a fierce, wealthy woman. The racial aspect just makes a bad photo even worse.

It fails on so many levels.

[Janae Kiana Brown]

06:41 PM on 12/18/2011

am i the only one who sees at the bottom of the picture 'Photographed in Haiti discover the beauty and inspiration' and if donna karan was a racist why would she even go to a country wear everyone is black? (no offense but im african american anyway) if anything this picture shows some diversity and that it doesnt matter about color when others who have less are in need you help.

[ihurtiminfashio]

11:13 AM on 12/18/2011

I wish the Haitians would stop exploiting Brazilian supermodels to showcase their vibrant spirit.

[scorpiascorpio]

11:00 AM on 03/19/2012

LOL :D

[Christopher Koulouris]

04:49 PM on 12/17/2011

Then there’s the idea that perhaps readers are seeing too much in the picture and assuming because the main focus is on a white girl and the background on young Haitian boys that somehow they must be subservient to her. Really? What if the boys had been placed in the foreground, would the same comments of racial imperialism come into play?

http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2011/12/why-is-this-donna-karan-ad-being-called-racist/

[scorpiascorpio]

11:01 AM on 03/19/2012

Well their assumptions are wrong because Lima is not white...ijs

[Tresco]

10:29 AM on 12/17/2011

Anyone who looks at this shoot and the motivations behind it and sees racism has issues of that they need to own up to. The mindless screech of "racist" should not just be ignored but should be a subject for ridicule and ostracism. They are saying hurtful, hateful things in order their own "enlightenment" at the expense of slandering others. "Anonymous" should have had his comments moderated. There is no room for demented ravings like that in the modern world.

PS. If Adriana Lima looks "white" to you, you need to put down the crack pipe. She's a beautiful and charming woman of diverse ancestral heritage who's race is "human".

[mikeijames]

08:58 AM on 12/18/2011

also, the idea that donna karan finds herself racist when she used her entire collection to shine a light on the opportunities that exist in haiti to assist in their redevelopment remains quite laughable.

[slavinphoto]

10:40 PM on 12/16/2011

I am a photographer who just the other day came back from a trip to Haiti with Ms. Karan. I can attest after spending days touring the country, visiting schools and hospitals that have been erected for the people of Haiti with funds donated or raised by Ms. Karan that her commitment to helping Haitians in the wake of the devastating earthquake is 100% true and genuine. She spoke many times of the inspiration she takes from the artisans that she visits and collaborates with. This is a made-up controversy that seems to pop up anytime they put a top model who isnt dark-skinned amongst darker skinned non- models. (Remember Mikael Janson's story with Daria Werbowy in INTERVIEW?)

[Highball]

02:24 PM on 12/16/2011

First, it's Adriana. Everything with Adriana is, by definition, one of the best things to have ever been done by human-kind.

Second, people are getting their panties in a bunch over nothing. This is a ridiculous argument.

Third, having quotas for Brazilian models is absurd. Quotas are absurd.

[Jynee Simon]

02:09 PM on 12/16/2011

I think people upset about this knows little of Haiti, there's more than poverty there .why assume those kids are poor because they live in Haiti? are all kids in the US because they live in the US? Haiti like everywhere else has its poor, middle-class and its 1% who own and control most of wealth. why are people uncomfortable by black kids near a model but would not think twice about a pic with black kids surroundeed by flies?

You only see poverty because poverty sells!! have you ever see any happy haitians in haiti, having fun at the clubs, in casinos, at the beach nope because that would not inspire you to give $$$.

Haiti is better off with people like DK who focus on the country's artistic side, these artist are able to make a living off their arts and help their families. with enough photo shoot someday people may see a different side of Haiti and go visit not for charity but to see its beautiful mountains, beautiful clear blue waters and its rich artistry which will actually help the country by creating jobs.

These critics are not doing Haiti any favors by discouraging people like DK, these folks bring real help in form of jobs!! even Kim K, I was glad to hear she did a little shopping and stayed in a nice hotel and ate at our nice restaurant in Haiti.

[super kitteh]

01:41 PM on 12/16/2011

I didn't even see the kids lol. Had to do a double take

[Tresco]

10:32 AM on 12/17/2011

Same thing happened to me. The offended pinpricks would say that you are a racist because you only noticed the lighter skinned person. They have no clue and no hope of getting a clue.

[NevaforLeadership]

12:47 PM on 12/16/2011

There is one "race" on this earth: the human race.

[NevaforLeadership]

12:46 PM on 12/16/2011

Ridiculous controversy.

[asantewa3]

12:17 PM on 12/16/2011

Why is everyone assuming that because these children are Haitian that they are poor and "down-trodden"? Being local to the country doesn't make them poor. I think that speaks more to the public's perception of what being Haitian means, rather than what Donna Karan was trying to portray.

[Copper1]

11:14 AM on 12/16/2011

Adriana is of African descent. She calls herself Afro-Brazilian in the two interviews that I've seen on youtube. So, why in the world would this be considered racist???

[thejadedentrepreneur]

10:28 AM on 12/16/2011

The only thing that bothers me about it is a supermodel wearing uber expensive clothing in the middle of a country that has been devastated by unimaginable poverty.