January 13, 2017
On January 9, a Reddit-user discovered a horrific image on his way to work, under his own feet. When the man bought a pair of Polar Fox boots, he did not realize that the rubber treads on the bottom would leave swastika shaped footprints. “There was an angle I didn’t get to see when ordering my new work boots,” ‘FRSHFSHFCKR’ wrote alongside the images of the boot soles and the track marks they left.
The next day, the white supremacist website, Daily Stormer, wrote a piece featuring these boots entitled “Must Have: Polar Fox Boots – Perfect Footwear for
Nazis!” along with a link on where to
purchase them online.
Upon learning about this product’s design, ADL contacted the company responsible, Conal International Trading, Inc. to alert them to the issue and urge them to recall the product.
ADL was gratified to hear that the company was already aware of the issue and was taking corrective action. The representative explained that it is an Asian company, a culture which views the swastika as a Buddhist symbol. The League reiterated to the company that the swastika serves as the most significant symbol of white supremacy and anti-Semitism, and whether intentional or not, the use of the symbol on the boot is deeply offensive.
The League offered the company assistance in their corrective effort, and also independently contacted sellers to advise them of the issue.