When fashion designers or companies claim ownership or credit for traditional or ethnic styles without acknowledging or compensating the originators or community who developed them. For example, when a non-Native American person wears a headdress or dreamcatcher as a fashion accessory, it reinforces harmful stereotypes and cultural insensitivity.
Definition of cultural appropriation in fashion: Understanding the term and its meaning in the context of the fashion industry.
Examples of cultural appropriation in fashion: Looking at instances where fashion has been accused of cultural appropriation.
Cultural sensitivity: do's and don'ts: Understanding how to approach and use cultural components in fashion without causing offense.
Power dynamics and cultural appropriation: Exploring the relationship between dominant and minority cultures and how this can influence appropriation in fashion.
Fashion and identity: Understanding how clothing and fashion can be tied to cultural identity and what can happen when elements are borrowed without regard for their cultural significance.
The history of fashion and cultural exchange: Examining the historic relationship between cultures and fashion, including the influence of colonization and globalization.
The role of fashion in cultural preservation: Looking at how fashion can be used to celebrate and support cultural heritage without appropriation.
Alternative fashion and cultural exchange: Exploring how fashion designers can work collaboratively with communities and cultures to create respectful and meaningful fashion.
Intersectionality and cultural appropriation: Understanding how cultural appropriation can compound issues of intersectional identity, such as race, gender, and sexuality.
Strategizing for cultural sensitivity in the fashion industry: Practical steps for creating more culturally aware and responsible fashion practices.