Benetton is a global upmarket clothing brand, based in Treviso, Italy, also well known for its sponsorship of the Formula One team of the same name and high-profile European basketball and rugby clubs.

Benetton is known in the United States for producing a long-running series of controversial, sometimes offensive, advertisements that have caused a number of media critics to accuse the company of deliberately creating controversy in order to sell its products. This publicity campaign originated when photographer Oliviero Toscani was given carte blanche by the Benetton managment. The ads entitled "United Colors of Benetton," have included images that are apparently unrelated to the clothes sold by the company, including scenes of people dying of AIDS, panicking crowds jumping off of a sinking ship, a bloody, unwashed newborn baby, and a death row inmate. The only caption included in these pictures is the Benetton logo.

The name of the brand comes from the Benetton family, and in particular from Sen. Luciano Benetton who founded it.

Criticism

PETA is currently running a campaign against Benneton due to their use of Australian wool in their clothing. This is due to the controversy in the process of crutching sheep.

See also

• Benetton Formula
• Benetton Basket
• Benetton Rugby
• List of Italian companies
• List of Formula One constructors

External links

• United Colors of Benetton