Chloe Ng’s Dream Shuttered in Shanghai
What Went Down
Local socialite Chloe Ng and her family were buzzing with excitement in Shanghai. She was set to run the runway for Dolce & Gabbana (D&G) – a first‑time representation of Singapore at a mega‑fashion show.
But just hours before the lights’d go up, the show at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre was canceled at the last minute.
The Backstory
D&G’s November 21 show was supposed to be the brand’s biggest ever. However, a growing row over alleged racist remarks from designer Stefano Gabbana triggered a full‑scale backlash.
- Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi and e‑commerce giant Yangmatou joined a boycott.
- The controversy began with a viral Instagram clip: a Chinese model in a red D&G dress, struggling to eat pizza and cannoli with chopsticks while the narrator asked, “Is it too big for you?”
- Subsequent messages from Gabbana – allegedly full of slurs like “China Ignorant Dirty Smelling Mafia” – only intensified the uproar.
D&G’s Response
In an apology posted in Chinese on Weibo, the house admitted that Gabbana’s Instagram had been hacked. “We are sorry for the impact and harm these untrue remarks have had on China and the Chinese people,” the statement read.
Chloe’s Take
During an interview with The New Paper, 22‑year‑old Ng said she only thought the videos might have been a harmless mistake. “That was really racist,” she said. “It makes Chinese customers feel like the brand just wants their money and this is what it really thinks of the Chinese.”
She highlighted that Domenico Dolce had been deeply committed to the event, “taking time to work with every person walking the show.” Yet Gabbana’s alleged comments caused the opportunity to vanish.
Why It’s a Blow
Ng lamented that the cancellation left many “without a chance to represent their country at such a large show.” The event was called off at about 3:30 pm – only six hours before the planned start. “We were just leaving, and a lot of us just exited,” she added. “There was no point in continuing with the show.”
Bottom Line
For Chloe Ng and her fellow Singaporean fashion lovers, the Shanghai spectacle proved to be an unforgettable disappointment. The brand’s pivot from celebration to controversy has left many in the industry wondering whether the fashion world can handle such fallout without sidelining the very talent it claims to champion.
