The issue with Native American appropriation in fashion

Gabrielle Williams

October 28, 2014

Mr. Ward

U.S. History

                          

                          The issue with Native American  appropriation in fashion

Each years, the fashion industry makes billions of dollars selling clothing to eager buyers. While the majority of the clothing sold is everyday, run of the mill items such as jeans and t-shirts and tennis shoes, a growing number of said clothing is comprised of clothing and patterns that are distinctly Native American. Although this may not seem to be an issue to the average buyer, it is beyond troubling to the group of people who used to claim these items as their own.

 Native American appropriation in fashion is a relatively new occurrence, with many fashion companies and designers jumping on the “Native American culture is a way to make money” bandwagon. The struggling Native American community is not pleased with these actions; it is extremely difficult to be joyous when someone is making countless sums of money off of your culture, while you sit, destitute  on reservations tucked neatly away, out of sight so that your cries for justice are not clearly heard. Reservations are not known for their immaculate looks and pristine lawns, nor are they known for their ideal educational opportunities. Many, many reservations have problems that are beyond unacceptable, with mold being very common and healthy food, not so much. When this is added to the fact that gargantuan corporations such as Urban Outfitters and Forever 21 pull in huge amounts of money by yanking Native American culture from the hands of  it’s owner, and  sticking a thirty dollar price tag on it, the issue becomes clear; Native American appropriation is a growing problem.

 Traditional fashion to Native Americans is much more than lines connecting to other lines and intricate feathery things called headdresses. To the Native people, it is about religion. The patterns and designs spilled across a Forever 21 t-shirt may not mean anything to most people, but Native Americans see a different story. The typical “Native American designs” come from a very religious place. They are used to show the mountains and the clouds, the sun and the sky; they are meant to worship and praise the earth that brings forth life. The headdresses are seen as honorable and meaningful as they were used when going to war. By plastering these things across shoes and pants and sticking headdresses onto non Natives, it conveys a patronizing tone. It says “we as a country do not respect your wishes enough to actually listen.” At the end of the day, it is not at all about what the average, desperate to seem cool, white, American hipster has to say about how Native American culture and fashion should be regarded in the fashion industry; it should be decided by the people to whom it means the most. Native Americans were already subjugated to immoral treatment at the arrival of the settlers. Their land was unjustly taken, diseases were passed to them, they were forced to go onto reservations in a land they once called home.

What many Natives want, is for a say. A say in the way they are portrayed, a say in how they are treated. It is extremely difficult for the few designers the Native American community has to get noticed, to be able to create a fashion line for the cultural aspects rather than for the money involved. Although they desperately desire to show the world the true meaning of Native American fashion, their voices often go unheard in a sea of discrimination and pure ignorance. Just like years and years ago when they were forced into places and situations they did not desire, they are again being stifled. The only problem with the, justified,  anger expressed by the Native Americans and supporters concerning the appropriation, is that often other, more pressing needs go overlooked. Poverty levels in reservations are appalling and health and chemical dependency problems are much too high. It is very important to respect all people and there is more than one way to do this. With Native Americans, when the settlers ripped their and from them and proceeded to throw them to the bottom of the totem pole, it acted as a catalyst for the problems they face today. Out of respect, helping to lift them to their upright position once more would not be doing them a favour; it would be repaying a debt.

Despite the urge to turn the other way when it comes to issues concerning Native Americans in hopes that those issues will simply dissipate, it is important that this not be done. The blatant disregard for the desires and opinions of the Native community is the show of complete and utter lack of respect and compassion alike. Although there are other, perhaps more pressing issues running rampant within reservations, the issue of cultural appropriation is still an important one. Making money off of portraying a group of people in a particular way while said people live in horrible conditions if just that; horrible. Throughout the years, Native Americans have had a difficult time caused by the people who now call this land their own. it is our job to let them know that they are not alone and that they we recognize them as the proud people they are.

 

Sources:

beyondthebuckskin.com

thegaurdian.com

academia.edu

culturalsurvival.org

indiancountrytodaymediannetwork.com

thedailybeast.com

time.com