H&M pulls headdresses from Canadian stores

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TORONTO • Swedish fashion chain H&M stores across Canada have pulled faux feather headdresses from their shelves after receiving complaints the items are offensive to aboriginals.

Emily Scarlett, a Toronto-based spokeswoman for the Swedish chain, said Friday that the hair pieces — patterned head bands with bright pink and purple flowers — were part of the company's summer music festival collection called "H&M Loves Music."

Kim Wheeler, an aboriginal woman from Manitoba, says the $15 accessories are not honorable and make a mockery of their culture.

"My first instinct was to buy all of them and throw them in the garbage," Wheeler said.

Scarlett says the company received three complaints about the headdresses and quickly made the decision to remove them from the market. An order to remove the items went out earlier this week to its 61 Canadian locations.