Madison beauty - beauty news: MAC x Rodarte

MAC's latest collection sees the brand collaborate with high-end design label Rodarte - but not everyone is happy with the result. The collection, which is due to be released in the U.S on September 15th, is a tie-in with Rodarte's Autumn 2010 RTW collection, which looked to the troubled Mexican border town of Ciudad Juárez for inspiration. The collection embodied the dreamy Gothicism that Rodarte is famous for, rendered in pale, ghostlike shades. 

The MAC collaboboration draws on the same theme, with nail polish, lipstick and eyeshadow in frosty shades of taupe, pearl, mauve and grey. But it's the way the collection has been named that has caused the controversy. The two nail polishes in the collection are called Juárez and Factory respectively - but as the factory-town of Juárez is infamous for its high crime rate of violence against women, the choice of nomenclature has gotten some people upset. The situation in Juárez is well-documented, with Amnesty International campaigning for an end of violence against women in the impoverished area.

In response to the controversy, MAC and Rodarte issued the following statements to Temptalia.com:

STATEMENT FROM M·A·C COSMETICS ON THE M·A·C RODARTE COLLECTION
We understand that product names in the M·A·C Rodarte collection have offended some of our consumers and fans.  This was never our intent and we are very sorry.  We are listening carefully to the comments posted and are grateful to those of you who have brought your concerns to the forefront of our attention.  M·A·C will give a portion of the proceeds from the M·A·C Rodarte collection to help those in need in Juarez. We are diligently investigating the best way to do this.  Please be assured that we will keep you posted on the details regarding our efforts. 

STATEMENT FROM RODARTE ON THE M·A·C AND RODARTE COLLECTION
Our makeup collaboration with M·A·C developed from inspirations on a road trip that we took in Texas last year, from El Paso to Marfa.  The ethereal nature of this landscape influenced the creative development and desert palette of the collection. We are truly saddened about injustice in Juarez and it is a very important issue to us. The M·A·C collaboration was intended as a celebration of the beauty of the landscape and people in the areas that we traveled.