Protests over fashion designer Roberto Cavalli’s use of a logo similar to a symbol of a school of Sufism have taken place in New York, Los Angeles, and London. Before Vancouver’s #TakeOffJustLogo rally on July 12, supporters of the campaign bombarded local media outlets with requests for coverage on social media.
Afterward, California-based campaign organizer Nasim Bahadorani sent us these photos of the protest in downtown Vancouver. Bahadorani’s email states:
The #TakeOffJustLogo campaign is not just about a sacred symbol being used explicitly in ads or on perfume bottles. The main problem is that the “Just Cavalli” logo is a trademarked symbol of M.T.O. Shahmaghsoudi that is being used by Roberto Cavalli. The fact that a 27 year trademarked symbol is being used at all is the issue at hand. The Just Cavalli logo is causing confusion to people as it is almost identical to M.T.O. Shahmaghsoudi’s trademarked sacred emblem.
According to the Daily Mail, the European Union has rejected a request by Sufi Muslims to stop Cavalli from using the logo. The U.K.-based newspaper quoted a spokesperson as saying the company hopes the EU ruling will “convince the Sufist religion of the complete good faith and the groundlessness of their requests”.