A black 'IS' flag is flying in London after a marketing campaign misjudgment

A black banner with the word "IS" printed on it is currently hanging from a lamp post in the London borough of Hackney thanks to an awkward marketing gaffe.

The flag is in no way linked to the Islamic State terrorist organisation, but according to the Evening Standard, it is part of a campaign to advertise the borough's growing shopping scene.

However, the resemblance the banner bears to the infamous flag ISIS members wave around in their photos and videos has left some Londoners baffled.

On Sunday, Facebook user Alan Wolfson posted a picture of the black flag:

Hackney are draping banners around claiming HACKNEY IS FASHION . There's no sign of the sequence of that sentence other than This solitary black flag outside Tesco with IS on it. Well done Hackney Council.

The team behind the "HACKNEY IS FASHION" promotional campaign has erected a solitary flag reading "IS" outside a Tesco store, but awkwardly banners completing the phrase are seemingly nowhere to be seen nearby.

The unfortunate miscalculation has not gone unnoticed and Wolfson's spot has been circulated widely on social media.

One Facebook user commented on his post with "great PR" while another simply remarked "{facepalm}".

A spokesman for Hackney Council told Business Insider in an email that the council was not responsible for the flag, but that it was aware of it.

The spokesperson added: "The flag - which says 'is' - is part of an advert for Hackney Walk, a new development in Hackney Central. They've been up for about 18 months and read: 'Hackney is fashion'."