I have since removed all items
<p> Hindus were for free artistic expression and speech as much as anybody else
if not more.Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with
about 1. I had no intention to offend anyone by producing these printed garments
and have now stopped production of them, all items are removed from the
website.Designer Leyla Raif of Soulan Zee, in an email to distinguished Hindu
statesman Rajan Zed who spearheaded the protest asking for withdrawal of this
objectionable product, wrote: </p><p>I have since removed all items entailing the Ganesha print from my website.
Soulan Zee, an Australia fashion label which claims to have created custom
pieces for American singer-actress Miley Cyrus, describes itself as “psychedelic
clothing for dreamers” and believes in “living life to the fullest”.1 billion
adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken
frivolously. Created by designer Leyla Raif, its all garments are claimed to be
“designed and <a href="https://www.bdseamless.com/">seamless clothing
manufacturer</a> handmade with love in Melbourne”. Besides online sales on its
website; it has stockists in Northcote (Victoria), various online stockists in
USA and United Kingdom and ships to all-over Australia, USA, United Kingdom,
China, India, Sweden and New Zealand.Rajan Zed had stated that such
trivialization of Hindu deities was disturbing to the Hindus world over.Ganesha
Bootys, described as “perfect outfit for festivals, parties and events” and
“Sexy high waisted boooootys”, were priced at AU40.</p><p>
</p><p>&nbsp;Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other
agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.Zed suggested that fashion companies
should send their senior executives for training in religious and cultural
sensitivity so that they had an understanding of the feelings of customers and
communities when introducing new products or launching advertising campaigns.
But faith was something sacred and attempts at trivializing it hurt the
followers, Zed added.Melbourne (Australia) based fashion label “Soulan Zee”
withdrew bootys carrying images of Hindu deity Lord Ganesha from its website
within less than 24 hours after upset Hindus protested, calling it “highly
inappropriate”.Rajan Zed, however, pointed out that they were still waiting for
a formal apology from Soulan Zee and its CEO to the upset Hindu community.
Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Zed had
noted.”Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, in a statement in
Nevada (USA) today, thanked Soulan Zee for understanding the concerns of Hindu
community which thought image of Lord Ganesha on such a product was highly
insensitive.In Hinduism, Lord Ganesha is worshipped as god of wisdom and remover
of obstacles and is invoked before the beginning of any major
undertaking.00.Rajan Zed had said that Lord Ganesha was highly revered in
Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to
adorn one’s buttocks and crotch</p>
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