Comments on: Social Media and the Fight over Urban Outfitters’ Appropriation of Native American Cultures

By: Tim Goelz

Tim Goelz — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 09:18:00 +0000

Appropriation is a large part of any artistic cultural practice. The best thing about it is that it can be a great source of solidarity between/among once disparate cultures, instead of (like in the case of Urban Outfitters) a source of divisiveness.

While it is true that any piece of a culture may well be appropriated someday, in order to pay respect to the appropriated culture (as well as just get things right), it may be better and more responsible to research and (if possible) collaborate with natives of the appropriated in the project. As said above, this would more accurately represent the symbolism held by those in the appropriated culture and more respectfully pay homage to them..

How ’bout some simple cultural respect and responsibility?

By: David Chase Hawisher

David Chase Hawisher — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:42:00 +0000

They’re navajo patterns. There’s nothing false about the advertising.

By: Yannick

Yannick — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:01:00 +0000

Kettu is correct, it is illegal in the states to claim something is of native design when it isn’t. By calling them “navajo hoodies”, Urban Outfiters are breaking the law.

By: Alex Odell

Alex Odell — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:42:00 +0000

I can see people having a problem with fashion magazines glamorizing stereotypes of Native Americans (like Tyra Banks telling a Native American girl her Pocahontas photoshoot wasn’t good because she didn’t look ‘tragic’ and ‘hippy’ enough to make it look authentic), but I fail to see how just wearing a pattern could be offensive. If people like ponchos with Navajo patterns, how is that degrading to other Navajos?

By: Kettu

Kettu — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:25:00 +0000

No, but presumably being the Navaho nation does give you some rights to the use of the word “Navaho”. Especially if some of the craftspeople of you nation rely on that designation to survive.

By: David Chase Hawisher

David Chase Hawisher — Fri, 11 May 2012 02:24:00 +0000

I’m sorry, but simply pioneering a design doesn’t mean you have exclusive claim to it. The Navajo and whoever else have no business getting all pissy over this.

By: Adeba

Adeba — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:08:00 +0000

hmmm. by my personal reckoning, approriation’s hash was settled over 25 years ago by lesbians & other sentient beings-it’s ridiculous to position this in the law, but I know someone has to since people with no honor only respond to threats to their wealth. I don’t know what person with respect for creativity of any kind still shops at Urban Outfitters. They have a well-documented history ripping off small designers & craftspeople who try to sell their work on Etsy. Appropriation is way too subtle a notion for folks who steal at will. it’s the venal and corrupt selling to the clueless and and cute. If there are millions of women who want .navaho’ on their panties, Urban Outfitters is just another cynical player in a moral and intellectual wasteland.

By: Anna

Anna — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:01:00 +0000

Your example occupies various spheres, although it includes appropriation – it’s great that you brought it up, because understanding various forms of acculturation are very important to this subject.

By: LC

LC — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:26:00 +0000

You’re right. Perhaps it would be best that non-Native Americans simply go nude since every bit of clothing worn by Americans since 1607 has been appropriated from other cultures.

By: Anna

Anna — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:17:00 +0000

This is a very well-researched presentation that offers a lot of insight on how social media can bring awareness to a cause. But it is extremely biased and judgmental on the topic of cultural appropriation in fashion. Had it rested on the fact that appropriation of Navajo culture is actually illegal (which is very significant to this specific topic), that would be a strong argument. Ditto if it had it just focused on blatantly offensive, stereotyped items like the drinking flask.

Instead, the overall message of the presentation is that any and all forms of cultural appropriation of Native American culture in fashion are wrong, offensive, and harmful. It offered absolutely no other perspective, apart from one superficial quote by some Urban Outfitters honcho. Intelligent, thought-provoking analyses, as well as counter-arguments, of cultural appropriation do exist.

Cultural appropriation has occurred in fashion before the modern notion of fashion even existed. It has occurred in the arts and other disciplines since ancient times. It is arguably inevitable, and the way the appropriat-ing cultures as well as appropriat-ed cultures are affected is complex, to say the least. The subject of cultural appropriation – in fashion and otherwise – deserves to be discussed in a more nuanced way.

By: Tom Megginson

Tom Megginson — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:20:00 +0000

Not to detract from your excellent post, Gwen, but I can’t help but think that “Navajo Hipster Panty” would be an awesome name for a band.