A dress that features a live bowl of fish as a decoration has sparked backlash online, with some describing the work as "shameful."
A video posted to Instagram on September 30—which has since gone viral—shows a model sporting the dress, which is decorated with seashells at the top and scales down to the bottom. And, more surprisingly, there's a fish bowl that sits right at the very center of the garment.
"Mermaid," a caption to the video reads, stating the inspiration behind the dress. The footage begins with somebody pouring water and the live fish into the fish bowl attached to the dress. A close up then shows the fish swimming around in the bowl, and the model begins to pose for the camera.
The video has received 406,083 likes on the social media platform, but not everyone is a fan of the unique design. It has sparked quite a backlash, with many claiming that the design is cruel for the fish.
"Inhumane idiots! Your makeover makes no sense if its a torture to innocent animals! #disgusting #shamefull," someone wrote on the viral Instagram post.
"Everyone, Much respect for your talent and creativity. However, you forgot that those are living sentient beings. You can't just use Animals / fishes / Sentient beings like that. You are suffocating them. I know it must be unintentional, but kindly stop doing this as this is cruel, Bad, wrong and Unfair," one Instagram user commented.
Other complaints on the dress included:
"Leave animals alone."
"Stop using animals in everything."
"U don't keep so many fishes in such small space .. plus they need proper oxygen."
"What's wrong with you people, stop bothering other living beings."
"Don't use animals for your fun or fashion whatever u call it. They are not your property stop harassing them."
There were a few people who defended the fashion designers, however.
"Overall, 60% people consume fish, chicken or meat weekly, according to the National Family Health Survey and here they are questioning this creativity where they are actually safe?" an Instagram user argued.
"Everyone be like - why fish they die. But then you eat fish," someone else said.
One other Instagram user said that while the dress is an impressive design, the use of animals is still wrong.
"So to the people who are complaining about how people aren't appreciating how talented she is, the dress indeed is very pretty on its own it's just the [intentional] cruelty towards fishes which is absolutely disgustingly wrong and which is why a lot of people are disappointed (which is quite reasonable)," the Instagram user said.
Newsweek has contacted the designers of the dress for comment.
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Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Robyn White is a Newsweek Nature Reporter based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on wildlife, science and the ... Read more
