Fashion Lingo: Pinkwashing

27/10/10

Pinkwashing

Using support for breast cancer research to market products, particularly products that cause cancer.

Pinkwashing is a blend of pink, the color associated with breast cancer research, and whitewashing, "concealing flaws."

"An unflattering term coined by activists for pink products by companies that say they're helping fight breast cancer but are linked to practices that contribute to factors researchers say cause rising rates of the disease."
—Gabrielle Giroday, Think before you pink, Winnipeg Free Press, June 4, 2008

Published on: Word Spy

Fashion quote

"Shakespeare managed to accurately describe the entire human condition using simple English, so we're certain the fashion industry can do the same to describe a pair of trousers"

"It's now easier to understand Sanskrit than some of the words commonly used by commentators within the fashion industry to describe garments."

(Debenhams spokeswoman Lizzie Singleton)

The lingua franca of the fashion world is „fashionese“ or „fashion speak“. Originally it was the language of the fashion pack - the designers, stylists, journalists and models,- made to keep the little people out.