New year, new controversies [1] for fast fashion retailers: H&M has come under fire for selling a scarf that looks suspiciously like a Jewish prayer shawl. It pulled the item from stores in Israel after shoppers complained about the similarities.

Apologizing for the mix-up, the retailer said it never intended to offend anyone and that, instead, it was inspired by the current trend of stripes. "Everyone is welcome at H&M," the statement read [2]. "And we never take a religious or political stand."

While it's easy to see why people were offended — the beige colorway, stripes, and fringe do make the scarf look like a tallit — we're sure it was an honest mistake. See it for yourself ahead, as well as a true Jewish prayer shawl.

Here's the Scarf . . .

H&M Striped Scarf [3] ($18)

Here's a Traditional Tallit

Akrilan Tallit with Blue and Silver or Gold Stripes and Hebrew Blessing [4] ($76)