Prada Told Store Manager to Fire 'Old, Fat, Ugly' Staff

It's the American Apparel controversy all over again.

The Sun reports:

Fashion company Prada have sparked outrage over claims they ordered a store manager to get rid of "old, fat and ugly" staff.

Rina Bovrisse, a senior retail manager at Prada Japan, is suing the fashion label over the allegations.

Ms Bovrisse, who oversaw 500 staff in 40 stores across Japan, also alleges that the Italian store's CEO told her to change her hairstyle and lose weight to fit in with the company's image.

The former shop manager has launched a discrimination and harassment case against Prada in Tokyo's tribunal courts.

Ms Bovrisse's allegations focus on an incident last year when she claims that Davide Sesia, CEO of Prada Japan, allegedly asked her to "eliminate" around 15 managerial staff he said were "old, fat, ugly, disgusting or not having the Prada look".

Immediately afterwards Prada's HR department reportedly issued 13 of the staff members with transfer orders due to poor sales.

Ms Bovrisse, who revealed details of the case in an interview with the Japan Times, said she was later summoned to a meeting where she was told Mr Sesia had reportedly said he wanted her to change her looks because he was "ashamed of Ms Bovrisse's ugliness, so he doesn't want visitors from Italy to see her".

Ms Bovrisse, who has 18 years experience working in the international fashion industry, was placed on involuntary leave last November and launched her legal case the following month.

Describing why she had launched the claim, Ms Bovrisse said: "My responsibility is to protect hard-working women and make sure their working environment is safe."

A spokeswoman at Prada's Tokyo headquarters said that the company was currently unable to comment.

Yes!!! That's the Prada store in Tokyo in the above photo.





source