UNITED COLORS OF BENETTON'S X-RATED KNITTED SCULPTURES IN SEX POSITIONS CAUSING A FURY

A new United Colors of Benetton pop-up store in New York's soho neighborhood has lead to a social media outburst from offended parents.
The temporary store, titled Art of Knit, is a fall pop-up shop featuring yarn art created by sculptor Erik Ravelo, however the pieces, amidst the racks of brightly colored sweaters, depict graphic sex positions and parents are less than thrilled.
Social media debates have erupted since the store opened last week, with one mother arguing on photographer Sam Horine's Instagram image of the store: 'This corrupt society we live in does not value nor respect the innocence of children.'
Benetton, a brand synonymous with brightly hued controversy, has taken over a 2,200-square-foot former garage on Crosby Street just south of Houston, stocking it with both pullovers and the sexually questionable art.
The installations, called 'hardcore yarn-ography' by one parent, are also seen as amusing by others.

'It certainly is a very confronting image, but I believe our children see things just as confronting on music videos,' one commenter wrote. 'Most kids won't even realise what they are seeing when they see this display. And if they do, it's probably time to teach them a little bit about the facts of life.'

Cause for concern: Social media debates have erupted since Benetton's temporary store opened in New York's SoHo last week

Lana Sutra: Benetton has taken over a 2,200-square-foot former garage on Crosby Street just south of Houston, stocking it with both pullovers and the sexually questionable art called Lana Sutra

'As patents, we have a responsibility to deal with the tough issues, not hide from them,' another argued.
The wooly installations will change every few weeks, according to a statement released by Benetton, with up and comers including more family friendly 'knit covered dolphins.'
This isn't the first time families have gotten fired up over Benetton's marketing ploys however. The brand has been selling its clothes under pretense of controversy for years.
In 2011, the international retail chain made worldwide headlines after releasing a campaign called UNHATE, which included a series of photo-manipulated ads depicting world leaders kissing, including Barack Obama and Hu Jintao, Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China.

Pop-up: The converted garage space is a mix of retail, gallery and craft workshop

 

The UNHATE campaign later won an award at the Cannes Film Festival, mainly thanks to people with a subtle sense of humour, like one commenter who wrote of the pop-up shop: 'I never managed to knit a sweater in that position, only result was a baby.'