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.

@IDontHateRainbows thank you for answering my question.

I think the term cultural appropriation has become pretty meaningless TBH.
I think wearing something that has spiritual or religious significance would be disrespectful but everything else is cultural appreciation!😁

No, no such thing as cultural appropriation- most cultures have borrowed from others unless they’re some isolated Amazonian tribe. It’s a load of made up rubbish designed to instil guilt and control . Wear what you like.

Whysnothingsimple · Today 12:42
No, no such thing as cultural appropriation- most cultures have borrowed from others unless they’re some isolated Amazonian tribe

I agree but people get quite worked up about it. I remember a thread on here some time ago in which a poster claimed western chefs shouldn’t be allowed to cook East Asian food.

It’s cultural appreciation! My friend brought me fabric from Tanzania as a gift and another friend turned it into a beautiful dress, I get lots of lovely remarks - I’m not pretending I’m African, I’m simply showcasing a hand printed fabric given by a dear friend (who is from Tanzania!)

I have just had a similar conversation 2 days ago with a Sami lady who couldn’t get her head around why anyone in the U.K. or elsewhere would find it offensive to wear the clothing they were selling to tourists, after all by buying their crafts you are making them money. I bought a lovely belt. Cultural appropriation is a concept that (non western) people just don’t understand they see it as a good thing to sell to me

As long as you're not the kind of idiot that rebrands an afro as a 'cloud bob' or edges as 'sticky bangs', you're perfectly fine.
Go ahead and enjoy your prints.

Unfortunately some industries/ locations, this does need thinking about. My previous dysfunctional workplace I’m 99% certain wearing another culture’s cultural dress would have lead to ‘a chat with hr’ if not a grievance.

@CrayCrayMum , I wear african wax prints similar to the Kemi Telford ones. I get the occasional strange look from people with african heritage but it's only been a handful of times.

I have three Zuri dresses (it's a US-based fair trade company that employs skilled tailors and textile designers, mostly in Kenya, then sells them in the West. Mostly to Sarah Millican, as far as I can tell!). One of them is my favourite dress and it comes out for special occasions. I'll admit I'm ever so slightly aware of any ironic side-eyes I might get but I think I'm paranoid. I love some of the prints and the colours, and the dresses themselves are good for fat middle aged women! If they'd designed dresses that were very similar to dress styles in, eg, Ghana, or Kenya, I think that would be different. Whereas this is just my favourite dress and I wear it to make me happy.

https://uk.shopzuri.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoo8-_OVJwQToem9dB_PPSsHsYWgNdHURtJoD3wEdDPWWDfmb5K9&_su_rec=gIZaLc4WtEL9GOIiknKIJKarqLqvJjcTMtDCE_E__g-rk3IN0lU37H7jFySlGBzCgwfTWRTChtTBc1NHg93UpgzzCokWp0Pkv5rWqmjcbaLIT5esc1FctfEGVz5_oj5JEOVOcb7CJ4JFGyeTARTQOEaVn5k9QhamaMNVxYGYJAhvZRBh0q4LaJ0C-FhgOlsULDlG5LliJBmkWgo4B-GrnuWx4ulwekeIlASoDrxyf_OLIx1L0BBQSvxDwJ1aiw&_su_rec_id=0f433c6a-2210-402e-bbb9-e0d96b690060-1782256071

Sarah Millican looks ok in hers.

I was given an African dress by an African friend. It's not my cup of tea really, so it's gathering dust in the cupboard, but it wouldn't have occurred to either of us that it's cultural appropriation.

Yet it doesn't bother me in the slightest. In fact i think the opposite. What the heck is there to be offended about? We don't "own" tartan or kilts and if folk like wearing it then hey ho i hope they enjoy it.

Did you look at the image? that's not "wearing kilts". That's cosplaying the idea od a kitsch, stereotpyical Scot.