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Conflict over music icon's image in clothes campaign

PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle 19.09.2014 08:55
One of Poland's top clothing manufacturers has raised controversy with its planned collection featuring rock music icon Grzegorz Ciechowski.

photo
photo - PAP/Andrzej Zbraniecki

Bytom, a well-know men's clothing producer, has announced plans to launch a collection of t-shirts, jackets and suits inspired by the late musician who died in 2001, known for his work with the band Republika and much more.

He was an iconic figure starting from the 1980's and, along with Republika, he also set a fashion trend at that time, with a characteristic black-and-white style.

His widow, Anna Skrobiszewska, has approved Bytom's collection, but many of the musician's friends and his daughter from his first marriage, are protesting against it.

“Using the image of Grzegorz for advertising is indecent and it has nothing to do with cultivating his memory,” former manager Jerzy Tolak told Dziennik.pl.

Republika's bass player Leszek Biolik recalled a situation, when Ciechowski refused to sell the rights to a song for advertising, no matter how high the sum offered would be.

Skrobiszewska meanwhile believes that there is nothing wrong with the company using her late husband's image and characteristic style.

“Nobody sees anything wrong about t-shirts with the faces of Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison or Ian Curtis, we should not be surprised about a t-shirt with Grzegorz Ciechowski,” her official representative told Gazeta Wyborcza.

Bytom had earlier produced clothing collections with the image of legendary Polish actor Zbigniew Cybulski and writer Marek Hłasko. Neither raised as much controversy. (kw)

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