Rick Owens’ clothes are too ‘dark and strange’ for China’s Forbidden City

This past Paris Fashion Week, Rick Owens’ avant-garde attire took over the French capital as the American designer showed his latest collection – but it seems not every city is receptive to the charms of Rick’s singular style. Last week, the designer visited Beijing’s Forbidden City with his wife Michèle Lamy and Fecal Matter members Hannah Rose Dalton and Steven Raj Bhaskaran. After entering the UNESCO heritage site – the historical home of China’s imperial families – the group were swiftly asked to leave due to their clothing being deemed inappropriate.

“This moment when we got kicked out of Forbidden City was really intense for us,” wrote Dalton and Bhaskaran on an Instagram story from their joint account. “They asked us to remove our make-up and change into normal clothes and then we could get in. We obviously refused because it’s more than just a look for us, it’s our identity.”

In the photos posted to Instagram before the group was asked to leave, Owens can be seen wearing a long black coat and baseball cap, Lamy in a structured black jacket and leggings, while Dalton and Bhaskaran are also wearing Owens’ designs. “We understand and accept we don’t have access to the whole world. It’s the price we pay for being ourselves without compromising our values,” continued the pair on Instagram. “It’s humiliating and dehumanising when security escorts you and makes you feel like a criminal when you did nothing wrong.”

Since the incident, there’s been no statement from The Palace Museum, the institution that owns the Forbidden City. Though there’s no strict dress code within the complex, visitors are encouraged to dress modestly and respect cultural norms, according to Chinese media. Despite an obvious grey area of what is deemed modest or respectful, Beijing Daily, the city’s daily newspaper, published an op-ed in support of the decision, adding: “Respect is mutual. In this case, it’s clearly not that these people’s freedom to dress is not respected, but rather that they don’t respect Chinese history and culture.” The newspaper also commented that “Owens and his entourage were dressed in ‘dark and strange’ attire, and in fact attracted frequent stares from passers-by.”

Despite the situation, Dalton and Bhaskaran remained hopeful in their Instagram statement. “What we take away from this experience is more determination to keep doing what we do to fight for more acceptance and tolerance for difference around the world,” they said. “Provoking and pushing the boundaries to fight against those who try to box people in and remove freedom of expression.”