Vans faces Hong Kong boycott over sneaker design controversy
CNNHong Kong CNN — Skateboarding brand Vans is facing a boycott in Hong Kong after it removed a shoe alluding to the city’s anti-government protests from a sneaker design competition. SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images The design, attributed to a Canada-based user named Naomiso, features a red bauhinia, the flower on Hong Kong’s flag, and one of the yellow umbrellas synonymous with the city’s 2014 pro-democracy protests. “This is a big move against the freedom of speech of all Hong Kong freedom fighters,” wrote one Twitter user, referring to the Vans controversy. “Now I see there is no way I can keep supporting your brand.” Sneaker chain Dahood, which operates several Vans franchise stores in Hong Kong, announced Sunday that it was suspending operations at three locations because of “the controversy caused by the Custom Culture design contest.” The widespread anti-government protests, which began in June over a since-withdrawn extradition bill, have grown increasingly violent in recent weeks.
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