Blogger Natalie Karneef clothing

Blogger Natalie Karneef clothing

Retail giant H&M has been accused of glamorising rape after unveiling its Girl With A Dragon Tattoo collection. The range, inspired by the film of the same name, features leather jackets, hoodies, mini-skirts and boots, all in the edgy style of the protagonist Lisbeth Salander.

Salander, played by Hollywood actress Rooney Mara, is traumatised by a violent rape, yet transforms from victim to avenger in the hit Steig Larsson adaptation.


But in an open letter on her blog, rape victim Natalie Karneef claims H&M is “putting a glossy, trendy finish on the face of sexual violence and the rage and fear it leaves behind.”

She continued: “I wonder if you’ve considered how a survivor of sexual violence chooses her or his fashion choices. I wonder if your designers researched what we think about when we get dressed, how some of us will opt against a revealing outfit because we’d rather not deal with unwelcome advances or sexist slurs.’
While Karneef makes clear she believes women should be free to wear what they want, she points out: “Many of us who have been there still decide against the short skirt. We place our bets, hoping that our camouflage will protect us from a rude catcall in a subway station, and the subsequent anger, shaking, tears.

Tattoo clothing under fire

Tattoo clothing under fire

Lisbeth Salander is a rape victim, an abuse survivor and a heroine in the "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," and the fictional character will also become a style icon if the clothing line by H&M is any indication.

The clothing line that sold out in Los Angeles in ten minutes, according to the designer, is under fire by blogger Natalie Karneef who wrote a blog item titled "An Open Letter to H&M from a Rape Survivor": "…H&M, you have created a line of clothing based on her character: a woman who has suffered a lifetime of abuse, who is violently raped, and who is hunting down a man who violently rapes and kills other women."

"Lisbeth has been through hell, and her clothing is her armor. That's her choice, and it's an understandable choice. But you glamorize it, putting a glossy, trendy finish on the face of sexual violence and the rage and fear it leaves behind."


H&M did not return our request for comment. In a statement to the Wall Street Journal, a spokesperson for H&M wrote, "We have read the open letter by Natalie Karnefwe apologize if she or anyone has been offended by the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo collection by Trish Summerville – this has not in any way been our intent. The collection is based on and inspired by the film and character Lisbeth Salander and though we think Lisbeth is a strong woman who stands up for her ideal, we are not trying to represent her specifically."

The spokesperson continued, "Our goal is to rather offer a collection that we see in today's trend picture that will appeal to many customers. We do not view this collection as provocative-it contains pieces that are staples in many people's wardrobes: jeans, biker jackets and t-shirts. It's all about how you wear them. We encourage our customers to find their own personal way to wear our products."