Is wearing West African prints cultural appropriation?

[CrayCrayMum]

I love bright colours and prints... I have seen some beautiful stuff online that comes from west Africa and I would love to wear some of it. BUT... Is this cultural appropriation? I have a dress that I bought in South Africa and had the same conversation with the shop owner, who thought I was mad, but I realise wearing prints might be seen differently by the African diaspora in the UK. Before anyone climbs into me for being too woke or whatever or having first world problems, you are right! I am and I have. This is a genuine request. I am just trying to not step on anyone's toes and trying to navigate the world with some sensitivity.

You used to need the nod from David Hockney. Not sure who hands out the permits now.

I assumed that poster meant that worrying about cultural appropriation was very 2010?!

Yes to the print.

No to a national costume/cultural garment.

I was referring to the worry about " appropration", not fashion.

Actually I would love to do this and I'm Scottish 😂😂 It's like people dressing up as cowboys and saloon girls - harmless fun.

Plenty of people from other cultures wearing 'British 'type clothes . Of course it's not cultural appropriation. Wear what you like .

Some of my best clubbing/festival outfits are Ankara cotton jumpsuits with pockets! I'm as see-through Irish as you get and luckily I have had nothing but good encounters with people of African heritage. The look up and down from an Auntie with the "you'll do nod" is fun.

@CinnamonJellyBeans
Yes to the print.
No to a national costume/cultural garment

Don’t go to Korea - you’d be horrified. At historical places like palaces everyone - Koreans and overseas visitors - are welcome to dress up in Hanbok, the beautiful national dress. In fact for some places entrance is free for those wearing Hanbok and there are numerous shops where the costumes can be rented.

There is no such thing as cultural appropriation. Just another way for the virtue signallers to guilt trip (usually) white folk. Anyone of any ethnicity is perfectly entitled to dress however they wish

It's Brian Turner.
Who, incidentally, also has the best recipe.
(It's equal amounts of everything btw. Doesn't matter how much you use, just make sure it's the same amount - I use an old large Cath Kidston mug to measure it all out. Perfect every time. BT is the GOAT. Although I've just realised CK is from Hampshire. I don't want to incur the wrath of Brian Turner so will switch to a Lorna Gilbert mug forthwith)

I think the latter is fine - after all, you’re buying the fabric from (presumably) West African suppliers. In much the same way as that distinctive Indian printed cotton is used in clothing here

‘Cultural appreciation’ - what a lovely way of putting it 😊

Definitely not Jon Snow. He knows nothing.

Derail - but I love your user name 😂😂

🤣 this was my job about 20 years ago!

They do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but I think it's beaten by cultural appropriation.

Practically all fashion is cultural appropriation at some point.

@IDontHateRainbows
They do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but I think it's beaten by cultural appropriation

Sorry, I don’t understand this sentence.

Oh who cares. Are you bothered if African people wear traditional British clothing?

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, it's a saying. Oscar Wilde said it first.

Sorry, I should’ve been more specific. I understand imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but I don’t understand ‘it’s beaten by cultural appropriation’.
Does it mean that cultural appropriation means imitation is no longer considered flattery?

No, that's not a real thing, it's woke nonsense. Wear what you like, just as other people from other countries and cultures do.

I’m saying yes, but purely to stop people posting those African inspired frocks as the answer to white middle class social occasions

There is no need

This was something I worried about when I went through a short period of wearing a head wrap when I lost my hair due to chemo, using some beautiful Ankara/Afraican wax print fabric. I often got compliments on my head wrapping prowess from many of the black nurses at my hospital. (Note. Am using black, their preference. I know because I asked them). They were all emphatic that it wasn't cultural appropriation at all. If anything, it's cultural appreciation!

Seriously though, I wouldn't give it a second thought. Enjoy the prints, they're beautiful.

I don't understand how this could be cultural appropriation any more than eating pizza or chow mein.

It's not that deep...

Cultural appropriation is a form of imitation, like fashion taking inspiration from other cultures, kimono jackets for example. It should be seen as a positive, not a negative.