Zara 'Death Pants' Too Stylish to Give Up: "I Almost Died Just 30 Minutes After Putting Them On"

Zara Wide-Leg Pants Spark Injury Reports on Social Media

Still in High Demand Thanks to Y2K and Quiet Luxury Trends

"I almost died just 30 minutes after leaving the house wearing these," "These pants should absolutely come with a warning label."

A pair of pants sold by the global fashion brand Zara has been heating up the online world. With a string of accident reports, the pants have even been nicknamed "Death Pants," yet some consumers continue to wear them, tying up the pant legs for safety. The growing attention is partly due to the willingness of people to risk injury for the sake of style.

There have been consecutive reports on social media about injuries caused by wearing Zara pants, which have been dubbed "death pants." Photo by The Washington Post and CBC News.

According to international media outlets including The Washington Post and The Guardian on July 20 (local time), the controversial item is Zara's "Flowy Wide-leg Pants," released at a price of $45.90 (about 68,000 won). Made of 100% polyester, these pants feature a draping silhouette, a comfortable elastic waistband, and practical pockets. They quickly gained a reputation among customers as "the pants of a lifetime."

"Almost Died Because of the Pants"...Injury Reports Continue

However, soon after the product went on sale, unexpected injury reports began flooding social networking services (SNS). The most common experience cited was losing balance and falling when the wide pant legs caught on the opposite foot or slipped under a shoe while walking. Cases were also reported of tripping on gravel roads, stairs, and crosswalks, and some even shared dangerous situations where the pant leg almost got caught in escalator teeth or bicycle chains.

Elin Costa from Toronto, Canada, told CBC News, "A few weeks ago, I fell because of these pants and broke my wrist, which required a cast for six weeks." She added that "the skin on my temple was torn and needed stitches, and both my glasses and Apple Watch were damaged." Ghislaine Engel of Amsterdam, Netherlands, reported, "Less than 10 minutes after going out, I stumbled nearly three times, so I had to hold up the pant legs while walking." On TikTok, user Holly Gilmer sparked a stir after posting a video of herself leaving the hospital in a wheelchair following a fractured knee.

There have been numerous reports on social media of injuries caused by wearing Zara pants, which have been dubbed "death pants." TikTok screenshot

Not Limited to a Specific Brand

Experts, however, note that this issue is not exclusive to any particular brand. The Guardian highlighted that the recently popular "Puddle Pants" (pants so long they touch puddles) often feature very wide and long hems, making it easy to trip on stairs or uneven paths.

Fashion designer Emil Vidal pointed out, "There's also a risk of the pant legs getting caught in bicycle chains, escalators, or various mechanical equipment." Stylist Claire Chambers explained, "The wider the pant legs, the higher the chance they will wrap around the opposite leg or foot and cause a fall."

"They're Too Stylish to Give Up"...People Choose to Wear Them Despite the Risks

Even so, the popularity of these pants remains undiminished. This appears to be due to the ongoing Y2K (early 2000s) fashion revival and the 'quiet luxury' trend that emphasizes understated elegance. On social media, posts such as "They're too stylish to give up" and "I just tie the pant legs when I walk" continue to appear.

Zara pants, called "Death Pants" on social media. Zara official website

The Washington Post analyzed this phenomenon as "a gap between the style shown in photos and the actual wearing experience." As fashion is now consumed primarily as a "visual image," the practical functionality for movement and activity has been relatively overlooked. This is similar to the case of the 'hobble skirt' of the 1910s, which also restricted walking.

Experts strongly recommend tailoring pant lengths to fit one's body shape as the first solution. In addition, they emphasize everyday caution, such as lifting the pant legs slightly when using stairs or escalators and avoiding wearing such pants when cycling or walking on uneven ground.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.