Spanish fashion retailer Zara has apologized for selling a striped T-shirt bearing a yellow star that drew criticism for its resemblance to uniforms worn by Jewish concentration camp inmates . Zara said the garment , advertised online as a striped `` sheriff '' T-shirt , was inspired by `` the sheriff 's stars from the Classic Western films . '' `` We honestly apologize , '' Zara said on Twitter in response to numerous outraged tweets . The offending item was removed from Zara stores and its website , according to a press release from Zara 's parent company , Inditex . It was on sale for just a few hours before the company pulled it `` due to the potential similarity with the Star of David , '' the company said . Sales were `` marginal '' and the remaining products will be `` destroyed . '' `` Inditex would like to reiterate its utmost respect for all cultures and religions . The Group is a Company where people from 180 nationalities work together representing all the cultures , races and religions of the modern world . Inditex is proud of its cultural diversity . In addition , respect and dignity feature among the principles which guide and define its corporate values . The Group condemns and rejects any form of discrimination . '' It 's not the first time Zara has come under fire for using controversial imagery , according to the World Jewish Congress , one of many groups that called out the garment on social media . The fashion chain withdrew a line of handbags in 2007 from stores in Britain after some said the design featured Nazi swastikas . `` The bag had been produced in Asia , however , where the symbol also carries ancient cultural significance , '' the World Jewish Congress said in a statement . The Anti-Defamation League said it welcomed the removal of what it called the `` deeply offensive '' shirt . `` The shirt emblazoned with the yellow star is in poor taste and is deeply offensive to Jews and Holocaust survivors . To anyone who knows their history , this kind of imagery should be off-limits . We welcome Zara 's recognition of the shirt 's potentially offensive imagery and removal from sale , '' the group said in a statement . `` This is not the first time we have seen a retail clothing company making this same offensive mistake . The fact that this keeps happening shows that there is a serious need for education about the Holocaust and the history of anti-Semitism . ''
Spanish fashion retailer Zara sorry for striped T - shirt bearing yellow stripes . Item received criticism for similarity to uniforms worn by concentration camp inmates . The parent company says shirt inspired by ` ` sheriff 's uniform '' from Western films . ` ` We honestly disagree , '' company says on Twitter .