One of the items in the range is a jumper emblazoned with the word "colonialism".
The company's representative explained that the collection was not created to glorify the historical period associated with slavery and genocide but rather to encourage people to reflect on it.
"Big Uncle designers are not racists, fascists, Nazis or colonialists, they believe in freedom of thought and in the superiority of thought over any form of violence, abuse, imposition and oppression," the spokesperson said, as cited by the Independent.
But the excuse doesn't sound convincing for Twitter users who took to the social network to hail criticism on the Milan-based clothing firm.
"At best insensitive, at worst, standard racism. The usual ‘we didn't mean it" excuse", tweeted Daniel Roy Connelly.
A petition demanding to withdraw the entire line of clothing has been launched by writer Mireille Harper, gathering hundreds of signatures from across the world.
Colonialism is defined as a country or government taking a land by political or military force, then exploiting its resources, manpower and wealth.