Sikhs say Nordstrom apologized for turban, waiting for Gucci

rdstrom has apologized to Sikhs for selling a turban y found offensive, but a representative with U.S. community's top civil rights organization said Saturday y are still waiting to hear from Gucci brand that designed it.

"We feel that companies are commodifying and capitalizing on something that is dear and sacred to people around world," said Simran Jeet Singh, a senior fellow with New York-based Sikh Coalition, who said turban has a deep religious significance for men of his faith.

"And re is tension over fact that very article of our faith has been focus of so much hate and violence and bullying," he said, recalling that Sikhs wearing turbans have been attacked in hate crimes, including a man killed near Phoenix a few days after 9/11.

current complaint springs from a Gucci he wrap that until May 22 was vertised on rdstrom's website for $790 as "Indy Full Turban." description said "gorgeously crafted turban is rey to turn hes while keeping you in comfort as well as tremark style." rdstrom website on Saturday still h a reference to a Gucci "he wrap," but it was listed as sold out and it was longer pictured.

"We have decided to stop carrying this product and have removed it from site. It was never our intent to disrespect this religious and cultural symbol. We sincerely apologize to anyone who may have been offended by this," department store said in a tweet.

Gucci's turban was first talked about last winter, when a white model walked runway wearing it during a fashion show.

Gucci h t responded to criticism over product by Saturday. Emails seeking comment were sent to Gucci through its public relations representatives and a corporate fashion services website.

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"When companies appropriate articles of faith, y do t take into consideration discrimination Sikhs face while hering to tenets of ir faith. We appreciate @rdstrom's recognition of this problem & apology; we hope @Gucci will follow suit," Sikh coalition said in a Thursday tweet.

coalition was formed after Balbir Singh Sodhi, a bearded Sikh American wearing a turban, was shot and killed on Sept. 15, 2001, in Phoenix suburb of Mesa when he was mistaken for an Arab Muslim.

Frank Roque, 42, was quoted in police reports as saying "all Arabs h to be shot" and he wanted to "slit some Iranians' throats." Roque is serving a life sentence in prison for first-degree murder.

In ar attack on community, a white supremacist opened fire on a Wisconsin Sikh temple in 2012, killing six people and wounding five ors before killing himself.

Sikhs across United States and around globe have taken to social media to lambaste Gucci, including Taran Parmar, a rio journalist for News 1130 in Vancouver, Cana.

"Seriously @rdstrom @gucci ?" she wrote. " turban is one of most important and symbolic articles of faith for Sikhs, and you're selling it as a fashion accessory to make money? This isn't first time you've come under fire for cultural appropriation. Do better." Gucci in recent months has grappled with complaints from black community in U.S. over a sweater people found offensive.

Gucci President and CEO Marco Bizzarri this month attended a Gucci-sponsored event in New York's Harlem in dition to a recent fashion show featuring London-based black designer Ozwald Boateng at Apollo ater to mark 100th anniversary of Harlem Renaissance.

In February, brand apologized and removed from its online and physical stores a turtleneck black wool balaclava sweater that could be pulled over chin and se. It included a slit along mouth, ringed with what look like giant red lips and evoked blackface for many people.

Also in February, Katy Perry's fashion line pulled two s of shoes featuring protruding eyes, se and red lips that critics likened to blackface. singer and company said y were sdened it was being compared to blackface and said designs rar were envisioned as a d to "modern art and surrealism." 

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