Since May 1st, the Sultanate of Brunei—a small state located on the Southeast Asian island of Borneo—has introduced the first of three stages in its adoption of a new penal code based on Sharia law. The code includes death penalty by stoning for blasphemy and “illicit sex acts” and whipping and amputations for minor crimes.
In response, some of fashion’s A-list expressed their strong disapproval and even called for boycotts of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s luxury hotel collection, which includes Hotel Le Meurice and the Plaza Athénée in Paris, the Dorchester in London, the Principe di Savoia in Milan, and the Bel-Air and Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, among others.
According to WWD, American Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour, has vowed not to stay in any of the Dorchester Collection properties during her fashion week travels, while Kering’s CEO, François-Henri Pinault tweeted, “As the President of @KeringForWomen, whose mission is to fight violence against women, I strongly condemn the decision of the Sultan of Brunei and therefore boycott his hotels.”
In reaction to Pinault’s statement, François Delahay, the Director of the Dorchester Collection, denounced some “hypocrite reactions,” stressing that “Mr. Pinault is boycotting us, while many luxury brands of his group are sold in countries where Sharia is practiced,” adding that the CEO should “clean up his own act first, before giving lessons to others.”
Amidst the ongoing controversy, a spokesperson for the Dorchester Collection made an official announcement at the end of last week, explaining that its annual Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize, founded in 2010, has been suspended “due to other newly created similar awards,” such as the newly created LVMH Young Fashion Designer Prize. But in light of recent events, various personalities, including actor Stephen Fry and Virgin tycoon Richard Branson, expressed their skepticism and claimed that the prize’s suspension is due to the ongoing controversy regarding these planned boycotts.
Thus far, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, whose family has governed Brunei for 600 years and whose fortune is estimated at US $13 billion, hasn’t officially commented on the international outcry.
