Fashion world shaken by cultural appropriation claims [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Fashion world shaken by cultural appropriation claims
23JUN2019

The women embroiderers of the remote Mexican mountain village of Tenango de Doria made worldwide headlines this week when their government went to war with an American designer for "plagiarising" their patterns.

Wes Gordon, the artistic director of the New York label founded by Venezuelan designer Carolina Herrera, found himself accused of cultural appropriation.

The women of the indigenous community in the east of the country told AFP how they felt cheated of their traditional motifs where "each element has a personal, family or community meaning".

It is the latest in a long line of controversies where multinational brands stand accused of ransacking the cultural heritage of poor villagers.

Four years ago another indigenous Mexican community complained that the French designer Isabel Marant had lifted a 600-year-old Tlahuitoltepec blouse design that is the symbol of the Mixe people.

Mexico has also previously protested about Zara, Mango and Michael Kors designs.

More:
https://www.afp.com/en/news/3954/fashion-world-shaken-cultural-appropriation-claims-doc-1hq61t3


The people who created the designs, or inherited them over generations, should received the credit, and NEVER be ignored when designers use their unique expressions.










Images of the town, the area, and more designs:

https://tinyurl.com/y23krdwo