Germans see swastikas in English leather buttons

The German newspaper "Die Welt" reports that the fashion company Esprit, fearing damage to its image, is withdrawing 200,000 copies of its catalogue because of pictures of clothing with traditional English leather buttons that look (at least to some neurotic Germans) like swastikas.

Leather buttons with swastikas (article in German).


How paranoid can you get???

I don't know. Did your grandparents kill 6 million Jews?

The lunatics have taken over the asylum.

Funny they see them on a tiny button, but not all over the ceiling of the Hofbrauhaus, which actually had a strong connection to the movement.

Yep, took my friend into the place and he photographed it whilst we were having a drink, a lot of disapproving looks from the waiter but he seemed happy enough with 10 euro tip he was given!

I can see it if I really try. Looks more like four pieces of burnt toast shoved together.

Funny that. I always think that the roof of the Hofbrauhaus looks like a bunch of english leather buttons.

I think they ( the complaining ones) might have a point, there does seem to be some kind of continuity here.

Hitler prefered GAP over Esprit anyway.

Yes. They were German so obviously guilty of murder on at least 1 count. We're hoping the court will take the other 5,999,999 counts into consideration in the one judgment.

I have a jacket with buttons like that. Have been wearing it recently, too.

If you hear of a "button-rage" attack one of these days please spare a thought for me.

Wow can GG get away with that ad in the fatherland ? Brilliant though

Land's End also has some cardies with these buttons, offered in the German catalog.

Thats just stupid. I'm sure if you looked hard enough you could see symbols everywhere that are connected to extremist movements. I vote we knock down the pyramids coz they look like KKK hats. And who spends their time looking for these things anyway?

Come to think of it, I bought a blouse with buttons like this at one of the big stores in Munich many years ago. Must have a rummage through my wardrobe to see if I still have it. I'll wear if if I can find it. Or maybe I'll buy a new one from Esprit.

This is stupid, stupid, stupid. Do we ban gas ovens next?

Then again, if I were a cynical person, I'd say this smacks of a marketing gimmick on the part of Esprit.

Remember last summer's fake shoplifter from Konen who went back to the store to try and return the shoes he'd supposedly stolen?

Right, I mean you can find them everywhere if you look for them. They are probably just after a bit of publicity.

What you've drawn there is not a Nazi swastika, Derek. It's the wrong way round. You've drawn the Buddhist variant. But yeah, your point still applies.

Thanks GG, you are absolutely correct.

However I was drawing it from the perspective of looking out the window not into it. (excuse made up on the spot)

I think that button pattern is quite a classic pattern. I am actually pretty sure I had a coat at some point with buttons like this. I never really went to the Hofbräuhaus though. Too touristy, so I wouldn't know about the ceiling there.

In Karstadt on Saturday (the one at Munchner Freiheit in Munich, on the ground floor) they were selling cardigans with exactly these buttons - and no, they weren't by Esprit. Somebody should tell them it's "Verfassungswidrig".