Zara removes controversial Halloween costume for children from sale

The Spanish fashion chain has removed a children's Halloween costume from sale after critics criticized similarities to the attire of concentration camp prisoners during the Nazi dictatorship.

The costume with blue and white vertical stripes consisted of a jacket and pants, both of which looked particularly worn. There were also prints that could be reminiscent of barbed wire. Patches on the sleeves gave the impression of prisoner numbers.

“The Spanish fashion chain Zara is horrifying its customers in Europe with another of its nightmarish ideas – a costume in the style of the Nazi concentration camps,” wrote Israeli journalist Dov Gil-Har, for example, on the X platform.

The costume can no longer be found in the fashion giant's online offering. «Zara Home regrets any misunderstanding this Halloween groom children's costume may have caused. It is no longer available in our stores or online,” the fashion giant’s press office responded to a query. The company left unanswered the question of why the similarity to concentration camp clothing was not noticed during internal controls.

It is not the first time that Zara has attracted attention with products that are associated with National Socialism. In 2014, Zara had to withdraw a blue and white striped children's shirt that had a yellow six-pointed star on the left chest. It was reminiscent of the so-called Jewish stars that the Nazis forced on Jewish people in Germany in order to publicly stigmatize them. In 2007, a fabric bag was offered in Zara stores that was decorated with floral patterns and swastikas.