Is it cultural appropriation?

[IStillMissBlockbuster]

As a white English woman, to buy and wear something like this?

I genuinely don’t mean to be a twat or deliberately inflammatory. But I love African print clothes and i have hesitated over buying something like the above. I don’t think it would be because this particular item would be bought from an individual, rather than a corporation that is benefitting at the expense of real people. But after that American student getting roasted online for wearing a Chinese dress (was it a Kimono? Not sure) to prom, I can’t be sure. I’d be interested to hear your views.

For god sakes, who cares? You want to wear african print clothing, go for it! You can't live your life being dictated to by the professionally offended. Fashion has taken from other cultures since the dawn of fashion, this is part of what fashion is.

By the way most corporations benefit at the expense of real people, whether related to cultural appropriation or not. Its kind of how capitalism works.

First of all that is gorgeous!

Secondly as an african - ROCK IT! It’s lovely! Dont overthink things.

Isn’t it stunning?!! Not sure I’m glam enough to pull it off but I think I’ll try!

I am sure you will look lovely! What will you wear it with? If i saw you on the street i would stop and look (in a good way).

Yes it's lovely. All this cultural appropriation thing is nonsense. Is it cultural appropriation when black women straighten their hair, or wear western style clothes, or have their skin lightened? Of course not.

No I don't think it's cultural appropriation in this instance, although I do hmmm at white people who wear dashikis to festivals and the like.

@singlenotsingle you are spectacularly missing the point with cultural appropriation, none of the things you mention are cultural appropriation, they are standards and ideals imposed on minorities by the dominant class - in the western world that is Caucasian people. Hence straight hair and pale skin. Not at all similar to the dominant class taking aspects of minority culture and using them for frivolity - crystal 'bindis' for white girls at festivals, Native American headdresses as costume the list goes on

Buy the clothing and enjoy it.
As for the rest of you, do try and understand your innate racism, please.

It's just clothes, wear what you like! :)

Has anyone actually taken a survey and asked people of ethnic minorities whether they mind, eg people wearing bindis at fesitvals, white children getting cornrows in their hair.

I'm sure the vast majority don't have a problem with it.

The ones that do probably have too much time on their hands.

FWIW I'm from a cultural/ethic minority on my father's side and I really don't give a flying fuck if people want to wear the clothes of that culture/eat the food. If anything, it's a compliment.

Some of the ignorance on this thread is astounding.

If you like the skirt and it suits you, OP, buy it and wear it with happiness.

I love it! Sooo much that I'm going to buy it!

There's no such thing as cultural appopriation. It's made up by "concerned people" in order to sow dissent and sell tabloids. No one cares - and anyone who raises the possibility that SOMEONE ELSE might be offended by it needs a good reality check.

Where I live there is a very large Asian community. Its is seen as respectful to that community for White people to wear clothing from their culture at various family and community events.

My good friend looks as white as you can get but actually she has an Indian grandparent. Her mother and brother look very Indian. Who is to say what she can or can't wear on appearance alone.

I have a couple of friends who have married into other cultures. Shoule they not be able to wear clothing from those cultures (in actual fact as I said before it is seen of them as respectful when they do)

Fashion has always borrowed from a variety of sources and cultures. Brithain is amelting pot of different cultures. it is when there is segregation that there are problems. Lets all live together and appreciate things of beauty regardless of where they originate from.

"Professionally offended" people! That's the phrase I was looking for, they're the only people who are against the concept.

There's no such thing as cultural appopriation. It's made up

I would get really happy if I saw anyone wearing clothes that are specifically part of my culture.

It's absolutely gorgeous. You should get it.

I don’t think so, the print might be African (tbh I wouldn’t be able to tell) but the actual garment is quite a standard skirt, rather than traditional or ceremonial wear.

The West African people I know are delighted when white people wear clothes like that. Especially if they are genuine items from source or small businesses, rather than imported from China.

What is not ok IMO is wearing culturally important items as fashion statements (most obvious example is feathered head dresses), or discriminating against people of ethnic minorities for certain styles whilst adopting them yourself (this was the crux of the issue with the american girl who wore a kimono to prom)

You stopped your quote before the important bit, tectonic. Well done.

You mean the but where it says "in order to sow dissent and sell tabloids. No one cares"?

It's utter rubbish.

I'm black.

Cultural appropriation is absolutely a thing and the whole "wear whatever you like, who cares, it's just clothes"is ignorant in the extreme.

However That skirt is beautiful and you need to buy it and wear it immediately.

Wearing clothes, like this skirt, which take their inspiration from other cultures is completely fine.

Not sure I’m glam enough to pull it off but I think I’ll try!

You can't judge this for yourself. You will need to post a picture here so we can judge that

I don't understand what this cultural appropriation thing is about (too lazy too google it). Why can't we embrace & celebrate other cultures not our own? If I am allowed to express my own culture in bad taste, why is it off limits to embrace 'another' culture in bad taste. Who gets to approve & disapprove how much is embraced?

Besides, who are (anybody) to say I'm embracing a culture not my own. Do you really know my cultural background, how can you be so sure?