‘Upsetting’: Cotton On vows to alter kids T-shirt design over similarities to Nazi symbol

The popular clothing brand had to review the design of a T-shirt after a shocked mother’s complaint. READ MORE

The Cotton On Kids tee shows a monster riding a skateboard but symbols in its glasses look similar to the Nazi SS insignia. Photo: Supplied

Geelong-based retail giant Cotton On will redesign a children’s T-shirt sold worldwide after a mum noticed markings that closely resembled a Nazi symbol.

Sonia Brownsett said the top, which shows a skateboarding monster, was “inappropriate” and contacted the company after her 10-year-old son was gifted the shirt for his birthday.

Ms Brownsett, 43, told Cotton On part of the design – reflections in the sunglasses of the creature – looked like the insignia of the SS, a paramilitary unit central to the Nazi’s persecution of the Jews.

Ms Brownset, from Brisbane, told the Geelong Advertiser the shirt had been purchased by a friend at a Cotton On Kids shop on the Surf Coast.

“He got the T-shirt two days before (his birthday), no one had paid much attention to the details of it,” she said.

When he showed off the shirt to his parents for the first time, Ms Brownsett said her husband pointed out the symbol and urged their son to take it off.

“It was a bit horrifying to see a kid quite proud of this T-shirt with that symbol on it,” she added.

Ms Brownsett said she had to sit down and explain what the SS symbol represented.

“We just explained that these were the police of the Nazi party and that they were really bad people,” she said.

Cotton On Kids reviewed the design and will alter the shirt going forward. Photo: Supplied

The SS flag.

A Cotton On Kids spokeswoman said following one complaint they received last week, a review had been conducted and an apology was issued to the customer.

“Following the customer query, we have reviewed the design with our team and will adjust it in future so there is no confusion with the intended design,” the spokeswoman said.

According to Cotton On Kids, the design on the shirt is supposed to depict a “playful monster on a skateboard” with bolts of lightning reflected in its sunnies.

Cotton Kids sells its products globally.

The SS – known as the Schutzstaffel and Saal-Schutz – were largely responsible for the genocide of millions of Jewish people and other victims during the Holocaust in World War Two.

Many of its members were eventually convicted of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In the days following her complaint to Cotton On Kids, Ms Brownsett received an apology and was told the design had “no association with any symbols” in relation to the Nazi party.

Given the current climate, in relation to the Israel-Palestine War, she said many Australians would likely be upset to see a kids’ T-shirt showing such an inflammatory symbol.

“It was really upsetting … but mostly because it was on kids who aren’t going to have any idea,” she said.

“So all these kids are walking around Australia with these T-shirts oblivious of the pain they are causing for the Jewish community.

“It’s just a symbol that shouldn't be sold by a mainstream shop.”

Dr Dvir Abramovich, chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission. Picture: Josie Hayden

Having spent years campaigning to outlaw displays of another Nazi symbol, the swastika, Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich said he understood how some people could consider the shirt to be in “poor taste and obscene”.

“While I accept the assertion by the company that the design has no association with Third Reich insignia, it goes without saying that any imagery that resembles Nazi symbols must be off-limits,” Dr Abramovich said.

“Businesses should be respectful and sensitive to their customers’ concerns and Cotton On has demonstrated such an approach.”

He welcomed Cotton On’s “swift and thoughtful response” to Ms Brownsett’s complaint, as well as conducting a review and making appropriate changes.

Cotton On Kids designers are made to participate in regular training via an ethical design program and all designs are said to be carefully considered.

Originally published as ‘Upsetting’: Cotton On vows to alter kids T-shirt design over similarities to Nazi symbol