Mac - Rodarte Collection a step too far?

Mac have recently gotten themselves in some hot water for the insensitive naming of their new products in their Rodarte collection. With countless number of blogs, Youtube videos & online petitions drawing attention to their, well, very bad taste, they weren't gonna get away with this one.


From Fox News

"World-renowned cosmetics brand MAC recently announced the September launch of a new collection in collaboration with high-profile fashion brand Rodarte, inspired by the colors and culture of Mexico

.  The new line features various products including a pink blush named "Quinceañera," and a sheer white lipstick called "Ghost Town." But it’s the frosty pink nail polish entitled "Juarez" that’s causing all the controversy.

“Naming a shade of nail polish ‘Juarez,’ after an impoverished Mexican factory town that is notorious for the rape and murder of countless girls and women is insensitive and tasteless,” Amelia Parry, the editor-in-chief of the premier women's relationship site TheFrisky.com told Pop Tarts. “Naming a secondary nail polish shade "Factory" further indicates the brand's cluelessness, as most of the women and girls who have been murdered in Juarez disappeared on their way to or from work at the town's factories. As Frisky blogger Jessica Wakeman said in a post on the subject, "I'm not going to go name my Sudan-inspired nail polish 'Darfur,’ which I think is a pretty apt comparison.”

MAC has since apologized for the product titles, and is now working to do all it can to win back offended consumers.

“We understand that product names in the MAC Rodarte collection have offended some of our consumers and fans.  This was never our intent and we are very sorry,” a representative for the collection said to Pop Tarts in a statement. “MAC will give a portion of the proceeds from the MAC Rodarte collection to help those in need in Juarez. We are diligently investigating the best way to do this.  Please be assured that we will keep you posted on the details regarding our efforts.”"

Mac's most recent statement on the issue:

"We understand that product names in the M·A·C Rodarte collection have offended our consumers and fans. This was never our intent and we are very sorry. We continue to listen carefully to the comments we have received and have the following plans to address concerns:

• We are committed to donating $100,000 to a non-profit organization that has a proven, successful track-record helping women in need and that can directly improve the lives of women in Juarez in a meaningful way.
• We are changing the product names in the M·A·C Rodarte collection."

The cynic in me believes someone, somewhere in the MAC camp believes the old adage that any publicity is good publicity. 

Ciudad Juarez:The Serial Killer's Playground (Warning : some may find the content of this article disturbing)

What do you think? Comments welcome...