'Keep an eye on those Asian girls': Kookai accused of racism
A shopper has accused fashion brand Kookai of racism after she overheard a shop assistant point at her and warn a security guard to ‘keep an eye out for those two Asian girls’.
Student Serena Xiao took to Kookai’s Facebook to complain about the alleged treatment after having her bags searched by a security guard in Melbourne’s Emporium shopping centre.
‘This is my first time shopping at Kookai and it will be my last time. Never have I been so poorly treated in a store before,’ Ms Xiao wrote.
The Facebook post described how she allegedly entered the store with her friend before a staff member spotted them and ‘told the security guard to "keep an eye out of those two Asian girls"' while pointing at her.
‘After purchasing $100 worth of clothing from your Emporium store, they manhandled my backpack and Country Road purchases,’ Ms Xiao claimed.
Ms Xiao alleged she confronted the store member about their behaviour when ‘other customers were not handled in the same appalling manner’.
‘They did not even have to open their bags or compare the receipts to outside store purchases. What gives them the right to look through my private belongs as though I am a theft. Kookai is a racist and discriminatory store that I will never recommend to any of my friends,’ Ms Xiao fumed.
Kookai responded to the post on Facebook by asking Ms Xiao to get in touch with them.
‘Hi Serena, would you be able to leave us your email address so we can contact you directly to discuss this matter further? Thank you,’ the company said.
On Friday afternoon the company made a statement on Facebook saying: 'Customers are our number one priority at Kookai.
'We are looking into the complaint and have made several attempts to reach the customer in the last 24 hours to discuss the matter. We are yet to hear back, and will continue to try to contact her.'
Ms Xiao responded: 'Hello Kookai social media team, I have already provided my email address within the minute you replied to my original post... I do not feel like you have made "several attempts" to reach me.
The post resulted in other shoppers sharing their experiences too.
Kookai is a French fashion label that has stores across Europe, Asia, America and Australia.
Morning news break – May 22
