A viral fashion trend is raising safety alarms on social media.
High-street retailer Zara finds itself at the center of the storm over a popular pair of wide-legged trousers.
Users are sharing videos of painful trips and falls while wearing the garment. The trousers have earned a dark nickname: "Zara death pants."
Despite the warnings, the trousers remain popular for their trendy, loose, and airy design.
The high-waisted, elastic-waist pants with front pockets and a flowing silhouette sell for £25.99 (about $45.90).
Online creators warn that the voluminous fabric poses a physical hazard. Multiple clips document shoppers experiencing severe tumbles.
Influencer Jessica Pearce shared a video of herself face-planting onto a gravel driveway. "The Zara trousers are going to be the death of you," she stated.
Camila Ribera Roca from Bolivia posted a clip of herself tripping on a pavement. Her video, showing a cut arm, attracted over one million viewers.
Canadian resident Ellin Costa suffered a broken wrist and a cut face. "These pants almost killed me," she told CBC News.
Another creator named Morgana grazed her knee and broke her phone. Her warning video has over 2.3 million views.
In one alarming report, a woman's trouser hem got caught in an escalator, dragging the fabric up to her thighs.
Mechanics of the Hazard
The main issue is how the voluminous fabric moves while walking. Wearers report the baggy material wraps around itself or tangles around their feet and ankles.
This disrupts normal strides, causing sudden trips. Fashion experts confirm extremely wide-legged designs carry these risks.
Stylist Clare Chambers told Metro: "The wider the leg, the more likely it is to get caught and wrapped around the opposite leg/foot causing the wearer to trip and fall."
Many videos show buyers battered and bruised after simple walks. Zara's flowing palazzo trousers are noted as particularly dangerous.
Zara has not issued any public statements. The company did not respond to inquiries about the trousers' safety.
Consumers advise extreme caution near escalators or uneven terrain. Some humorously suggest a skinny jeans revival might be safer.
