A black flag bearing the letters 'IS' which was spotted in Hackney IS to be 'updated' after a social media backlash, the marketing team behind it said today
A banner outside Tesco in Morning Lane was widely criticised as resembling propaganda for terror group Islamic State after a picture of it was posted on social media.
It has now emerged that the flag was put up to advertise the Hackney Walk development – a new fashion hub built in recommissioned railway arches, which is due to open next month.
The black “IS” banner with white lettering is part of a sequence that spells out the words “HACKNEY IS FASHION”, according to the Hackney Walk development's strategy director Andrew Sissons.
Following the backlash, he told the Standard the flags were installed over a year ago and are soon to be updated.
In a statement, Mr Sissons said: “There is a sequence of 18 banners running along the lamp posts on Morning Lane which were installed over a year ago and are due to be updated shortly.
“They are designed to promote Hackney as a fashion district. The banner in question is one of a series of three which clearly reads ‘Hackney Is Fashion’.
“Unfortunately, one person has photographed one of the banners in isolation."
The flag had sparked criticism after pictures were posted online.
Alan Wolfson wrote on Facebook: "Hackney are draping banners around claiming it IS THE FASHION HUB.
"There’s no sign of the sequence of that sentence other than a solitary black flag with IS on it. Well done."
Hackney Council has said that although it was aware of the banners, they had not been put up by the local authority.
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