LONDON, ENGLAND, June 9, 2004: In an unexpectedly quick and decisive victory for Britain’s half-a-million strong Hindu community, one of Italy’s leading designers has apologized for the launch of swimwear and lingerie emblazoned with Hindu deities at strategic places. The bikinis with an image of what looks like Lord Ram as the main motif, were designed by Roberto Cavalli, often described as “the self-proclaimed king of Italian excess”. The bikinis, skimpy even by bikini standards, are now being hastily withdrawn from Cavalli’s sprawling, sensuously designed headquarters in Milan and the posh London stores stocking his wares. The protest against the use of Hindu deities to cover skimpy apparel meant for the typical summer’s day across Europe was led by Bimal Krisna Das of the UK’s umbrella body for Hindu temples. Das’s National Council of Hindu Temples officially claims to speak for more than half of Britain’s 140 temples. On Wednesday, Cavalli’s spokeswoman in Milan issued a craven apology, insisting the designer had wanted to “celebrate Hindu culture, and not to denigrate it”.
The Cavalli empire, which is thought to be heavily dependent on plundering new ideas and cultures to tempt customers, has admitted the designer and his team regularly travels to India and “adores” its people, history and culture. Cavalli’s 2003 collection “journeyed to the lands of the Rising Sun,” that is, Japan. Fashion analysts said that this year he may have wanted to sample India. But he might just wish he looked elsewhere.
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