Look Strange And Happy, Designer Rick Owens And His Group Were Expelled From China

Rick Owens and other designers were expelled from China (Instagram/@materesfecales)

JAKARTA - The designer from the United States, Rick Owens and the three other fashion designers were expelled from the Forbidden City, China. This is because their appearance is considered strange and scary.

At that time, Rick and his wife visited the palace where the Chinese Emperor had lived along with two other designers, Hannah Rose Dalton and Steven Raj Bhaskaran from the Fecal Matter label.

Reported by VOI from the Soouth China Morning Post page on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at that time Rick and his wife visited the palace where the Chinese Emperor lived along with two other designers, Hannah Rose Dalton and Steven Raj Bhaskaran from the Fecal Matter label.

Steven wore all-black clothes in the form of a low-chest cut dress combined with robes and jumbo shoes. In addition, Hannah wore a 'wing' pink leather jacket. The clothes that had stolen the attention were combined with tree-like shoes and a white face.

Unfortunately, they were criticized in official media for not showing respect for China's history and culture.

In an Instagram upload, Steven and Hannah admitted that they should not be allowed to enter. There is also a video taken by Rick Owens showing the group being taken by security to leave the area.

In the video circulating, they are expelled from the area. They admitted that the incident was embarrassing and degrading after trying to come back in, because they felt there was nothing wrong with their appearance.

However, both were asked to remove make-up and change clothes that were more normal. They described the incident as 'embarrassing and inhumane'.

"We understand and accept that we do not have access to the rest of the world. This is the price we pay to be ourselves without sacrificing values," he said.

"What we take from this experience is more determination to continue to do what we do to fight for more acceptance and tolerance for differences around the world. Provoking and pushing boundaries against those who try to erase freedom of expression," he added.

Fecal Matter has worked with Owens as well as well-known brands such as Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen. The account uploaded a video on Instagram and said 'the rest of the journey so far in China will be amazing'.

Many social media users defend Forbidden City's decision to reject the four luxury fashion designers. What's more, they have to respect Chinese cultural heritage.

"It is their freedom to dress as they like, and it is Forbidden City's freedom not to let them enter," said a user on the Xiaohongshu platform.

"I think we have to respect each other, no one will let Chinese people wear bikinis to enter foreign churches, right?" continued another.