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Lawmakers on Wednesday said there was no need to make a fuss over the Armani T-shirt bearing a logo similar to Indonesia’s national symbol, after the Italian fashion house issued an apology.

Armani Exchange had been selling the $42 Studded Eagle T-shirt on its Web site. The garment featured what the firm described as a military-inspired eagle but it looked very similar to the Garuda Pancasila symbol.

It was removed from the firm’s Web site on Tuesday after several protests and even calls for the label to be sued.

Justice Minister Patrialis Akbar had reportedly said that the Garuda Pancasila symbol was patented by Indonesia.

“This is really Garuda Pancasila, the symbol of our identity as a sovereign nation,” said on enraged Indonesian, Arianto Suryowibowo, on Facebook.

“Armani Exchange should clarify in their T-shirt description that this is a ‘Republic of Indonesia-inspired eagle logo,’ not a military logo from who knows where.”

Armani Exchange, in a statement e-mailed to Reuters, said the T-shirt had been withdrawn from its Web site.

“The issue was brought to our attention and the item was removed from our Web site immediately. We apologize for any offense this may have caused,” the statement said.

A lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Gayus Lumbuun, said that “Armani deserves appreciation for its quick apology,” saying there is a difference in perception between countries in regards to state symbols.

In Indonesia, the use of the icon is regulated by law. “We must accept the apology but they also have to withdraw the item and stop its production,” Gayus said.

Eva Kusuma Sundari, also from PDI-P, told the Jakarta Globe that the issue was settled.

“Armani has shown its goodwill, we accept it and that’s it,” Eva said.

Ramadan Pohan, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, said the T-shirt is merely a form of creative art. “I don’t see [what’s featured on the T-shirt] as our national symbol although it looks very similar,” Ramadan said, adding that Armani’s apology shows that the fashion house is “sensitive” to the possibility that its product may stir controversy.

Air Vice Marshall Sagom Tamboen said earlier that for most military officers, the eagle symbol used by Armani is not anything like the state symbol.

“That is not the Garuda Indonesia. [For us] it’s a sparrow, a very big sparrow,” Tamboen said.

He urged people to stop making a big deal over the shirt.



Reuters, JG