Australian designer brand Christopher Esber quietly removed Instagram posts of its latest swimwear campaign after backlash to the stark tan lines it showed off. Yikes.
A series of images posted to the brand’s social media on January 12 showed off its new Resort 23 Swimwear collection. The bikinis themselves were cute AF, but the models’ tans — significantly darker than the white skin under their straps — left viewers like myself in disbelief.
For one thing, the images appeared to glamourise tans obtained by cooking in the sun by associating them with luxury swimwear. I doubt this was intentional, but the effects remain the same.
It goes without saying that trying to get a sun tan is dangerous: the damage UV rays cause to your skin can lead to melanoma, one of the most aggressive and common cancers in Australia, and it’s not a practice we should encourage. There is no such thing as a safe sun tan.
MAFS
the problematic nature of tanning.png?w=600)
