Lawsuit: Versace Uses Code Word to Identify Black Customers

A Versace runway. Courtesy of Versace.

Summary: A fired clerk has sued Versace for racism.

Fashion has a long history of racism, and now one of the industry’s most powerful houses is under attack for its alleged discriminatory practices. In a new lawsuit, a mixed race employee accused Versace of labeling black customers “D410” whenever they entered the gaudy, high-priced store.

The plaintiff worked in a Bay Area branch, according to TMZ. He said that he was trained to call black customers “D410”–as in look at that D410 hanging out by the watches! The term also describes black shirts in the store.

“The manager instructed the plaintiff to say ‘D410’ in a causal manner when a black person entered the store” to “alert co-workers,” the lawsuit said.

The plaintiff, Christopher Sampiro, 23, said that he was fired shortly after informing his manager that he was African-American. He said that the manager told him the reason for the firing was that he just hadn’t “lived the luxury life.” He had worked at the store starting in September 2016 and was fired after two weeks. He filed his lawsuit last month, according to The Huffington Post.

Versace has denied the allegations and has already asked for a lawsuit dismissal. The plaintiff is seeking unpaid wages and damages.

This is the second time that Versace has been accused of racism towards African-Americans. Earlier this year, they ran an advertisement with a black male model and Gigi Hadid. The ad was made to look like they were an interracial couple with school-aged children. Critics of the ad said that the 21-year-old was too young to have children of that age, so that the ad made it appear that she had been impregnated while in high school.

Donatella Versace said that the ad was “bold” and dismissed her haters.