Stunning Brazilian model Adriana Lima, clad in an olive green Donna Karan jumpsuit, sits in the foreground of a new photo promoting the designer's spring/summer 2012 collection. In the background, two gaunt Haitian children look forlorn. The ad debuted last week to the chagrin of many critics who found the juxtaposition between the expensive designer clothing and impoverished Haitians exploitative and racist.

"The juxtaposition of luxury clothing — Donna Karan sells $2,000 dresses — and the poorest country in the Western hemisphere is troubling, and perhaps undercuts the message Karan thinks she's sending," wrote Jezebel's Jenna Sauer. "I am more bothered by the look of fear on the childrens' faces than anything else," wrote commenter kivain71 on the Huffington Post. "Using a very poor, very overstretched country as a backdrop for a luxury campaign — with a highly paid commercial supermodel — is crass," said commenter MALCOLMTUCKER on the Cut. 

The contrast between Karan’s high-priced label and the poor Haitian children may be off-putting, but it is clear the designer feels passionate about the country and her intentions may have been misconstrued. In her defense, it's worth noting that she spent extensive time in the Haiti after its disastrous 2010 earthquake and started Hope, Help & Rebuild Haiti to aid in the reconstruction of the quake-ravaged nation. She even based her spring/summer 2012 collection on the work of Haitian artist Philippe Dodard, which the campaign photographer, Russell James used as inspiration for the shoot.

"It is well known that Donna has been deeply involved in supporting and bringing awareness to Haiti since the earthquake," a spokesperson for Donna Karan told Fashionista."Through her personal experiences there, Haiti was a natural inspiration for the Spring 2012 collection. The intent of the ad campaign is to celebrate the culture and creativity of the people of Haiti."

Paired with last week's Bloomberg News story of Victoria’s Secret using child labor to work in the fields where it sources its fair trade organic cotton in Burkino Faso, one would think the third world has become de rigueur to the style set.