What’s your opinion of cultural appropriation in fashion?

I’m not sure what you mean. The current fashion includes every culture you can imagine. The traditional Native American fashion of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma reflects the influence of the European settlers from the early 1800’s Other than that, we have kept up with the fashion of the day since ready made clothing became available in the early 1900’s.

Appropriation is in my mind a good thing as long as it it seeks to create something new of something old.
Objects and styles have visual and emotional resonance because of their history. When appropriating something with deep significance for another culture it is heartwarming to see when the original culture is not just being exploited but being paid homage to. That respects and shows admiration for the mother culture without treating everything in it as a “holy cow” that must not be watered down or changed in any way. It is the nature of human cultures to change, evolve and borrow. In most cases I feel that that is enriching.

According to Wikipedia(art) “Appropriation in the arts is the use of pre-existing objects or images with little or no transformation applied to them.[1] The use of appropriation has played a significant role in the history of the arts (literary, visual, and musical).
Appropriation can be understood as “the use of borrowed elements in the creation of a new work.”[2] In the visual arts, to appropriate means to properly adopt, borrow, recycle or sample aspects (or the entire form) of man-made visual culture. ”

I am wholeheartedly for it. In every field of endeavor, each generation builds on the last one
Fashion is no different..

I think it’s offensive and ridiculous and racist. I don’t think people intend it to be that way but that’s part of how we are here, in the US.

I think it is inevitable and appropriate. Trying to fight it is like trying to keep the tides from happening. I don’t think it is any more racist than licking a stamp. We don’t owe anyone and no one owes us. It’s an evolutionary free for all. If you want to protect your culture, then teach everyone you can how to respect it.

@wundayatta so….appropriation is appropriate? :)

They say imitation is the best form of flattery.

It would depend on the intent and that there is more knowledge or forethought then the simple it caught my eye.

Do I think native americans have a special right to traditional garb no I do not. Not any more then any other cultural aspect that has been borrowed or used think kiminono’s, bowing, curtsey’s, english colloquialisms, tartans, and so many other examples.

The authenticate user can usually tell the difference. There are nuances and subtleties missed.

But my last word on the subject is you can go around being upset about things you have no power and control over. The only ultimate way to win is to not let it upset you, not to care. Not to say that it is no longer important to you. You just recognize your limitations and accept them choosing to surround yourself who don’t offend your ideal.

@Earthgirl If done with appropriate opprobrium.