A Miami swimwear brand has found itself in hot water on social media over a new product line.
Divinoseas recently launched a string bikini named “Rosa,” marketed as a tribute to civil rights icon Rosa Parks.
The move has ignited a fierce debate on social media, with many users crying foul over what they see as an inappropriate use of Parks’ legacy.
The bikini’s product description claims it’s “inspired by the woman whose righteous rebellion against apartheid style segregation in the United States sparked the civil rights movement of the 1960s.”
This direct reference to Parks has left many online commentators fuming.
“TOO disrespectful,” one X user posted, while another sarcastically suggested the company should “bring Rosa Parks flowers to her grave for disrespecting her this badly.”
Fashion brand's Rosa Parks-inspired bikini slammed – but it's already sold out
WHO would have ever thought they’d create a merch line for Rosa Parks? While the Civil Rights leader deserves the recognition, it’s not what you’d expect. Fashion fans chastised a… pic.twitter.com/cYlSeuiuux
— NFT ERC404 Official (@SianChay1901) June 25, 2024
Are users too quick to take offense?
We think so, after all the market typically decides the fate of products without the need for social media campaigns.
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Divinoseas isn’t stopping at Parks.
The brand offers swimwear honoring other notable women, including French monarch Anne of Brittany and biochemist Rosalind Franklin.
The “Rosa” bikini, priced at $90 for the top and $36 for the bottoms (reduced from $72), features a triangle cut with ruching and string ties.
TRosa Parks’ refusal to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955 was a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement.
Swimwear brand has shoppers in hysterics by dedicating $165 bikini to Rosa Parks – as critics label it 'peak millennial marketing' https://t.co/h9qLvCETYy pic.twitter.com/fN79fpnQ5f
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) June 25, 2024
Her actions led to the Montgomery bus boycott and earned her prestigious honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Interestingly, despite the vocal opposition, the bikini top is currently sold out in all sizes.
This suggests that social media outrage doesn’t always translate to real-world consumer behavior.
One X user proposed a compromise: “Could they please at least like, donate 1% of the profits to a Rosa Parks-related civil rights charity?”
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Ultimately, the success or failure of products like the “Rosa” bikini will be determined by consumer choices, not social media reactions.
