Zara faces backlash over controversial design on kids T-shirt

A seemingly innocent T-shirt featuring a strawberry design has sparked significant controversy, leaving many parents outraged. The Spanish retail giant, Zara, has come under fire for a white T-shirt marketed to young girls, which has been described as sexually "suggestive" by concerned mothers on social media.

The controversial T-shirt

The T-shirt in question features a graphic of a strawberry, accompanied by phrases such as "the perfect snack" and "a small burst of sweet joy." On the back of the T-shirt, additional text reads, "take a bite" and "a burst of sweet delight, making it the perfect summer snack," alongside an image showing the inside and outside of a strawberry.


The design caught the attention of Laura Wilson, a mother of two from London, who discovered the T-shirt in the girls' section at Zara’s Bluewater Shopping Centre store in Kent. Wilson expressed her discomfort with the wording, noting that the term "snack" is often used in modern slang to describe someone who is sexually attractive.

Public outrage and social media reaction

Wilson took to TikTok and Instagram to share her concerns, stating, "I’m not usually one to overreact about clothing, but this was in the girls’ section. Just wait till you see what’s on the back. If you’ve bought this for your child, you need to seriously reconsider." The 32-year-old's video quickly gained traction, with many users agreeing that the T-shirt's design was inappropriate. Some commenters labeled the clothing as "vile" and echoed Wilson's concerns about the suggestive nature of the wording.

Initially, Wilson wondered if she was being overly protective, but the overwhelming response on social media affirmed her concerns. She later told the Daily Mail, "It’s very suggestive. This T-shirt was for a six to seven-year-old, and I don’t think this is okay. The phrase 'the perfect snack' is quite suggestive of attraction. That’s how I perceived it."

Zara's response and apology

In response to the growing backlash, Zara issued an official apology and promptly removed the T-shirt from its stores and website. A spokesperson for Zara explained to the New York Post, "There was no intention for the use of the word 'snack' on this T-shirt to imply anything other than the traditional meaning of the word, as evidenced by the image of a strawberry on the garment. However, we now understand that some individuals have interpreted the term differently."



The spokesperson continued, "Therefore, we have removed the T-shirt from stores and our website, and we apologise for any misunderstanding or offence caused."


Wilson, reflecting on Zara’s decision to pull the product, told the outlet, "So they should! It’s unnecessary language for a kids’ T-shirt!" She also admitted that she hesitated to reach out to Zara directly, initially questioning whether she was being overly cautious. "I didn’t contact Zara because I thought I might be overthinking it, but the more I saw online, the more I realized there was a genuine issue."


This incident highlights the sensitivity required when designing and marketing products for children. What might seem harmless to some can be perceived very differently by others, especially in today’s social media-driven world. Zara's swift response to withdraw the T-shirt demonstrates an awareness of these concerns, though the controversy serves as a reminder for brands to carefully consider the potential implications of their designs.