The stunning H&M outdoor summer campaign has been the subject of guerrilla censorship. As you can see from the gallery above, the bus stop billboards have been defaced with spray paint. I don't want to encourage this sort of behavior, but I would like to see other pictures of it. Princess Hijab did this in the US, and she seems to have inspired a new generation.
Whether this guerrilla censorship is a religious statement or something more along the feminist lines remains to be seen. I wonder how H&M feels about it.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Guerrilla Censorship of Advertising
- Opportunity for companies to create less controversial and more culturally sensitive advertisements.
- Viral Street Art
- Brands could partner with street artists to create eye-catching and memorable outdoor ads.
- Consumer Empowerment Through Vandalism
- Opportunity for companies to create more open lines of communication with consumers to address their concerns and avoid vandalism.
Sectors Adopting This
- Outdoor Advertising
- Companies could invest in more airtight advertising spaces to prevent vandalism.
- Fashion
- Opportunity for companies to collaborate with artists to create ad campaigns that align with different cultural and religious values.
- Consumer Goods
- Companies could solicit consumer feedback to ensure that their products and advertising are culturally sensitive and avoid controversy.