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+--- Thread: Question for Native Americans? (/thread-103032.html)
Question for Native Americans? - BABYLOVE - 02-23-2014 05:14 AM
Do you guys find the tribal print trend to be offensive? A lot of social justice bloggers that are NOT Native American say that the tribal print trend is offensive because it's "cultural appropriation", but I curious to know how you guys feel about it.
- Asdzánà - 02-23-2014 05:16 AM
eh...it depends. It's borderline. Those are ok, I guess. Though I've seen some where they are outright copying specific family-owned traditional designs- which is not ok. The problem isn't that non-natives shouldn't wear those designs, they can. The problem is that those companies copied and stole native designs and artwork, reproduce them in sweatshops, and market them for a huge profit. That's called theft.
It also depends what you wear it with. Add a piece of actual native-made jewelry, and it's still ok. Add a Chinese made faux - leather headband adorned with plastic beads and dyed chicken feathers, and now it looks like you're making a cheap indian costume.
Want to wear mocassins? Sure, lots of native-owned companies make real authentic styles for sale. Just don't buy those Minnetonka ones- made in china again.
Read this:
http://everydayfeminism.com/2013/09/cultural-exchange-and-cultural-appropriation/
or this: http://www.reddit.com/r/femalefashionadvice/comments/1vuaz5/native_fashion_101_not_doing_it_wrong_at_least/
ultimately, if you want to wear native-inspired fashions, buy them from actual natives. Not foreign companies who are making money from theft of our designs, and supporting the slave labor industry.