Senior Project Paper Whole

1
Influence of Cultural Appropriation on Fashion Trends
Influence of Cultural Appropriation on Fashion Trends:
Analyzing the Effects of Cultural Appropriation
Abbie Watkins
Instructor: Gregory Falls
Global Connections
Global Studies and World Languages Academy
December 2016
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents.2
Abstract....3
Introduction.4
Literature Review....6
Discussion..10
Public Opinion...10
Appreciations vs. Appropriation15
Elements of other Cultures in Modern Society.17
Influence of Culture in Media19
Limits and Solution...22
Conclusion.24
Appendix25
References.32
3
ABSTRACT
The Influence of culture on fashion has occurred in our Nation for years, but confliction
upon the subject has recently become a predominant issue. The appropriation of cultural attires
through mass media has publicized the topic and normalized it to where naivet has become an
issue on the subject at hand. Research shows that there is a line between cultural appreciation
and cultural appropriation but not sense that they can become one together. With the right mind
set and education, one can appropriate a cultural garment in the right ways to show appreciation,
and know the limits to which appropriation shouldnt occur.

4
INTRODUCTION
Cultural appropriation is a predominant and controversial issue in our world today and is
only growing. Our world strives for global acceptance among all nations, yet cultural and
religious attires are being appropriated into fashion trends with ignorance as to what the attire
might mean. Fashion all over the world forms around a countrys beliefs and religious values, but
when this influence of culture extends internationally, publicity of traditional clothing compels
foreigners to assume it as a trend. In order to form a more accepting and just world, we must
acknowledge the way culture has influenced modern fashion, understand the extent to which
fashion includes elements of other cultures, and avoid ignorance of appropriation.
For hundreds of years, fashion has included elements of different ethnicities apparel with
no reference as to what appropriation might be present. From wearing a garment as a common as
a kimono to wearing hijabs in public as a form of respect, there has been no line drawn to what
is offensive and what is societal acceptance. In recent years, the public eye has brought attention
toward offensive and blatant appropriation of cultural dress, but ignoring the appropriation that
has been present for decades. When does cultural appropriation become accepting to society and
when is it utterly offensive?
There is a difference between appropriating a nationalities clothing because of interest in
their customs, and appropriating cultural apparel to make a pure fashion statement; this presents
the issue of appropriation and appreciation. A large reason in which people in the public eye get
ridiculed for using fashion principles from other countries is because there is no knowledge as to
what the attire being used means. It isnt the fact that wearing other nations clothing that is
offensive; it is how it is portrayed. There is a large margin between winging eyeliner such as the
Egyptians originally did for a beauty statement, and wearing an Indian bindi because it creates a
5
fashion statement. Once ignorance of a culture's dress is eliminated, then the harsh appropriation
is demolished as well. If one knows the background to a garment then it is obvious to what
appreciation is and what misappropriation is.
LIMITATIONS
The topic of how culture influences fashion and then on influence becoming
appropriation is a one of the most controversial issues in our world today; opinions and biases of
those vary and limit the extent to which research can be seized. Appropriation and whether it is
acceptable verses ignorant and unacceptable has taken strong stances in biased media sources. As
well as the media being a limit to the truth behind culture influence, lack of self- experience
hinders a personal opinion to the research. Appropriation also has great extents to which can be
found, to insure an organized topic of study, limits to three broad spectrums of appropriation
have been analyzed. The limitation of a full range of research obstructs a complete answer to the
question of whether and when appropriation is accepted in modern society.
Media tends to zone in on the negative effects of appropriation; therefore, most research
found was negatively biased. On average, writers who have a personal attachment to the source
have a negative stance on the topic of appropriation. It is clearly noted that when analyzing
different studies, one must go to great extends to find a media review that is biased in a positive
manner. Culture influence is all about an opinion formed on the topic, thus neither answer being
technically wrong.
It is difficult to find a stance on the question of research when personal experience is
eliminated. Researchers whom have their own bias are able to relay a personal experience and
6
opinion, but when that is expelled from the study, its hard to sway the reader in the direction that
the research is going.
The fieldwork honed in on modern fashion and how it includes elements of other
cultures, how culture has influenced modern fashion, and ignorance toward appropriation. All
three topics are broad enough to cover ground of the question but there are still matters of
whether or not appropriation exists outside of the country, how it has affected personal lives,
future analyses of whether it will grow, etc. The limitations and obstructions to the field study
hinder an accurate representation and complete answer to the question at hand.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Cultural appropriation has gained immense amounts of public opinion and view in recent
years due to mass appropriation of cultural garments through fashion shows, costumes, and every
day wear. Through several sources, it can be noted that fashion throughout the world is
influenced by culture and religious beliefs. The following sources analyze cultural attire in other
nations, also while referencing customs and traditions that are relayed through a countrys
traditional clothing. The margin between cultural appropriation and appreciation can be
concluded through the following evidence as mere ignorance.
Culture globally has its own tradition and religious values that are set upon their society;
this is portrayed through their clothing. According to researchers, cultural fashion isnt solely
based upon what ones religious values are, but also tradition and climate. Fiber 2 Fashion
(2016,) reveals that Ancient Egyptians have gained all of their fashion trends from ancient
traditions that were set upon by the wealthy. The source also depicts the difference between
wearing cultural attire as a fashion statement and wearing the garments as an honor of tradition.
Fiber 2 Fashion (2016,) specifically mentions that in modern days, fashion can impact the culture
7
of a region, but in most cases it is the other way around- fashion trends in most societies are
based upon a country's culture.
In 2012 Karlie Kloss, during the Victorias Secret Fashion Show, was criticized for
wearing a Native American headdress as a fashion accessory. Women of heritage spoke upon the
issue as a matter of disrespect upon their culture (Wikipedia, 2016.) Native American attire has
religious and traditional value behind it, which was not spoken upon during the fashion show.
Similarly, in 2014, the Indian bindi was used as a fashion statement with ignorance to what the
meaning behind it entailed (Wikipedia, 2016.) The two examples of appropriation state a point of
reference to the fact that most appropriation that occurs in modern day media, are due to
ignorance of the garment.
According to the Huffington Post in early 2016, a majority of the black community
brought attention to the appropriation of black culture. The article shines attention on popular
actresses, singers, and entertainment stars as appropriating aspects such as dreadlocks, corn rows,
afros, and more. Amandla Stenberg states that she was at her boiling point with the constant
appropriating practices. The article articulates the fact that many of the styles that stars such as
Miley Cyrus and Kylie Jenner, are wearing, were originally used as a form of adaptation to
society. It can be seen offensive when white women wear these hair styles for performances and
them automatically being deemed as fashionable. Although this is a form of modern-day
appropriation, it can also be viewed as appreciation of black culture.
Costumes are also seen as a form of appropriation; Disney recently pulled their newest
Mona costume from their 2016 Halloween collection because it was seen as largely offensive.
The insulting costume was quickly removed from all sites and stores immediately after the
harsh commentary of the costume (Latime, 2016.) Its fair to say that the ensemble was an
8
unsubtle depiction of the Native American culture, but it also wasnt portrayed in a way that
seemed to be appropriating the outfit. A childs costume isnt taking a cultures dress and riding it
of its values, its more of appreciating and admiring the values and appearance of the attire.
What-when-how.com expresses matters of traditional attire that has been incorporated
into modern fashion for both men and women in a variety of different regions. The article begins
to talk about Middle Eastern fashion what the fashion standard has become in their part of the
world. What-when- how analyzes why different parts of the Middle East wear different kinds of
cultural clothing. This source also gives information about what was worn in the past and what is
currently worn in the present. This secondary source gives critical background information to the
meaning behind cultural garments.
Old traditional attire in Japan as evolved over the years and one of the major clothing
items that symbolize Japanese culture is the Kimono. JapanOrbit.com relays the Kimono is often
not seen in public in modern day society. Society has assumed the kimono not as much as
cultural attire, but more as a fashion asset. Japan is one of the largest fashion icons in the world
and a lot of the trends that are set there are intimidated all over the world. The source states that
the kimono along with several garments alike the kimono are no different than any other trend.
Franchesca Ramsey speaks through an MTV webcast about the difference between
cultural appreciation, appropriation, and cultural exchange. Ramsey depicts several different
myths that are thought of when cultural appropriation comes to ones mind. The video defines
appropriation as taking a marginalized or oppressed group of peoples cultural practices and
borrowing them for their own desires. Ramsey also conveys that appreciation is okay, but it is
necessary to have respect and understanding for the cultures beliefs. The webcast broadly
summarizes that cultural appropriation is a dominant issue in todays society due to the lack of
9
understanding behind what is being appropriated. Franchesca Ramsey eloquently states that
appreciation is great to have for a culture, but when ignorance is eliminated, the harsh
appropriation will do away with it as well.
According to Dounia Tazi on DazedDigital.com, there is a fine line between culture
appreciation and appropriation. Often celebrities are influenced to wear certain culture styles
because it differentiates them from others, but Tazi speaks very passionately on the disrespectful
nature of this. The article mentions that before one goes off to do anything that is in another
persons culture, they must evaluate whether or not this could be deemed offensive to any person
of the said culture. Tazi says that there is a difference between getting a Henna tattoo for a music
festival and getting a Henna tattoo at a South Asian wedding. There are several examples that are
seen as cultural appreciation but the line is so thin between the two, that the from first glance,
they cant be differentiated.
In some ways, cultural appropriation can be seen as a positive aspect of life. Steve
Patterson in The Thought Catalog, talks about how all cultures are essentially equal and the
differences in the socio-economic status of the ethnic group are a function of discrimination.
Patterson touches on the fact that all cultures are equal; therefore we should all be willing to
share cultures. The thought of a white women wearing dread is a sign of appreciation and like for
ones culture- not a disrespectful tie to black culture. The Thought Catalog states that cultures
shouldnt be preserved by the virtue of their uniqueness. The article broadly states that keeping a
culture within its boundaries reduces the rate at which our World progresses. Patterson
encourages the sharing of cultural attire because it encourages the blend of genetics-- one aspect
of the human that no one has control over.

10
DISCUSSION
Public Opinion
Cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation is a matter of opinion and bias. The
majority of all media sources are biased in similar ways, due to each authors personal stance on
the matter. When researching cultural appropriation, interviews were conducted among a crowd
of college and high school students. The students ranged in ethnicities, ages, schools, and
political backgrounds to ensure a wide range of diversity. Questions were based off of opinion
and personal experience.
One question in particular that stood out from the rest was, What is cultural
appropriation in your own words? This question elicited several different definitions; some
common words that were seen throughout all responses were: blending, cultural elements, abuse,
trends, and normalization. An overwhelming amount of responses concluded that cultural
appropriation as a whole has a negative connotation, which isnt necessarily true. Race issues
have blown up and people are bringing up more reasons to hate one another through social
media, says Chelsea Schmidt, a Virginia Commonwealth University student. Schmidt was not
the only student to mention the point that media has brought attention to the sore subject of
cultural appropriation. Emily Walton, a student at Ocean Lakes High School says, Younger
people have a larger platform to speak out against what bothers them. The fact that the majority
of the students interviewed pinpointed media as the source of negative attention toward
appropriation confirms why the subject has such a pessimistic connotation.
When the students were asked where the line is drawn between appropriation and
appreciation, short pauses between the question and answer were noted across the board. It
11
seemed as though students werent sure where this line is, or if these terms are the same. Megan
Hinton from the Tallwood High School Global Studies and World Languages Academy states
that It all depends on how youre trying to immerse yourself within the culture; one should care
about the culture when attempting to wear it. Hintons opinion was different from the rest in that
while she is a Caucasian female unaffected by this issue, she didnt agree with a majority of
appropriated trends. She turned her attention toward the case when Angelina Jolie wore a Hijab
when volunteering in Afghanistan. Her intention was to show respect toward their culture, not
to gain attention, Hinton also believes one shouldnt appropriate cultural attire even if ignorance
is eliminated. It isnt okay to use elements of different cultures when the motivation is to set a
trend says Hinton. However, Joseph Nguyen from Tallwood High School states that it is in fact
okay to mimic aspects of different cultures when able to explain what is being appropriated.
Nguyen provides that appropriation can be done in respectful ways, but when done in an ignorant
manner, its disrespectful.
A notable point during the interview was when Alexis Harmon, an African American
student of Hampton University brought up the fact that mimicking another culture is acceptable
until told otherwise. Harmon conveys that if a person if able to wear elements of another culture
without experiencing the oppression the original culture has to go through, then it shouldnt be
worn. An example that Harmon gave was cornrows. The African-American community
experiences hardships and stereotypes when it comes to their natural hair, and Harmon rules that
Caucasian citizens wear the hair style as a fashion trend and get praised for the unique trend,
while African- Americans get ridiculed for the same style. Harmon concluded that once
ignorance is eliminated from the equation of appropriation, then the disrespectful forms of the
said appropriation will be eliminated as well.

12
Toward the conclusion of the interview, interviewees were asked what the limit to
cultural appropriation was. Esteban Martinez of Tidewater Community College states that
Religion is where the concrete line is drawn. He gives facts about women in France wearing
headscarves to prove points about the ban on hijabs in France. Martinez conveyed strong
emotion in the subject due to heavy belief in appropriation and misappropriation. He states that
this isnt fully correct but the intentions were good. Martinez is personally affected by cultural
appropriation due to his Colombian heritage. He talks about Cinco de Mayo, and the fact that
Americans only celebrate it as an excuse to go out for a drink. The emotion he conveyed gave
strong reason to believe that his opinion of appropriation as a whole was negative. He also took
stances on appropriation of Halloween costumes in modern day society. In society
misappropriation of costumes such as Native American wear, or Indian attire is viewed as a
disrespect toward the culture. Martinez says that its disheartening to see that costumes are
made with no thought as to what can be offensive. He also states that costumes are made with
the idea that all cultures can fit into one person. His thoughts were drastically different from
most other responses. The vast majority of interviewees stated that Halloween costumes that
enabled children to dress up as characters from other cultures was cultural appreciation, and the
admiration of the attire.
One of the points of the interview that caught attention was when the students were asked
the difference of one appropriation toward another. It was easy for most students to say that
Indian bindis and tribal tattoos were offensive and disrespectful to wear, but when asked why
trends such as kimonos and winged eyeliner were acceptable, answers werent clear. Azia
Alverez of Tallwood high School states that wearing a Native American Headdress is
appropriation, and then says that the accepted forms are mainly cosmetic. After brief
13
discussion with the interviewees, it appeared that cultural appropriation is acceptable if one is not
ignorant toward what they are wearing, but its too far when religion comes into play.
The last question of the interview asked, What is the solution to Cultural Appropriation
as a whole? The answers were narrowed down into three main groups which were: No solution,
education through school systems, and for sensitivity to be minimized. There were direct
correlations between each of the students answers and their biases toward the subject. The
students who concluded that there was in fact, no solution to cultural appropriation tended not to
know a lot about the subject at hand and werent sure how to tackle the entirety of the questions.
Students who answered the question with education of cultures being the solution all had been
impacted personally by the issues and felt that by having school programs teach students how to
intermingle cultures the correct way then ignorance of the topic would deplete. Lastly, the
students who stated that sensitivity was the issues were mostly unaffected by appropriation and
were pro- integration of cultures. These students all wished that cultural appropriation would be
seen in a positive aspect. They viewed the usage of elements of other cultures as appreciation
toward the culture and inspiration for their own lives. All the students had their own opinions of
solutions which connected to their previous responses, proving that knowledge and personal
experience of appropriation does form opposite biases.
After Interviews were conducted, two polls through the social media website,
Twitter.com, were administered to the general public (mainly those who were between ages of
16-20.) The first poll asked those if it was acceptable for Caucasians to wear cornrows; the
second poll asked if it was acceptable for non-Muslim citizens to wear hijabs or head\scarves in
public. The polls were open for 24 hours,each received over 100 votes, and the results were
14
engrossing. The poll about non-Muslim citizens wearing hijabs received a vote of 62 percent to
38 percent, in favor of it NOT being acceptable to wear hijabs in public if not Muslim. On the
other hand, the poll asking about cornrows received a 51 percent to 49 percent result in favor of
Caucasians wearing cornrows. Analyzing the data was interesting because it showed that one
form of appropriation in modern society is completely acceptable while the other is out of the
question. Media sources make it sound as if all forms of appropriation are negative and shouldnt
be publicized, but the general public begs to differ. It might be that the optional poll was only
sought after those with strong opinions, or those who might not be completely educated on the
subject, so the result, while interesting, provides conclusions that are unclear as to what is and
isnt acceptable. The fact that hijabs are religiously affiliated while cornrows are not proves that
these survey respondents believe that appropriation is acceptable up to the extent of religion,
proving the thesis correct.
It was hard for some students to come to a conclusion about appreciation versus
appropriation in modern society. The students who were personally affected by cultural
appropriation tended to lean more toward the side that all forms are incorrect or offensive, while
the unaffected students tended to lean more toward the side of integration and blending of
cultures as a positive aspect of humanity. Results were about 50/50 when asked how to
appreciate versus appropriate an outfit. Students say that appreciating an outfit can only be done
when trying to blend in with the culture, while others state that you can appreciate a culture
simply by wearing their attires; it all comes down to the bias of an individual and their opinion
on the topic.Cultural Appropriation and opinions that comes with it are all correct in their own
manner and the public opinion interview proves this to be correct. It wasnt about if the
15
interviewee was saying the right or wrong answers, it was conducted with the intentions of
connecting individual thoughts with matters of personal experience and knowledge
Appreciation versus Appropriation
Cultural appropriation is defined as the adoption or use of elements of one culture by
members of another culture (Wikipedia, 2016.) Similarly, cultural appreciation is viewed as the
learning about another culture with respect, courtesy, and admiration toward the culture (Quynh.)
The fine line that separates the two is controversial and composed of many opinion-based facts.
Appropriation of fashion garments have been said to be a forms of racism, oppression, and
exploitation of culture (Quynh.) While there is a distinct different definition wise between the
two, the question still stand as, What is accepted as appreciation versus what is accepted as
appropriation?
Briana Fragoso from The Odyssey blog in 2016 states her opinions on the topic of
cultural appreciation. She comments that appreciation can be in many different forms and a large
part of appreciation is taking the time to understand the background and history behind the
culture. Although one who wears attire from different parts of the world might not be aware of
the hardships that are gone through when wearing the garment, education to understanding
shows appreciation for the original use (Fragoso, 2016.) However, some view appreciation as
honoring a culture enough to wear garments in a way that shows respect among the culture. For
example, Angelina Jolie visited Pakistan to volunteer with children and wore a hijab in order to
show respect among the people who lived there, this was seen as a form of cultural appreciation
(Tazi, 2015.)
16
Appropriation has had such a negative connotation for years due to the media and the
harsh biases that have come from it. Although appropriation can be done in a crude manner with
disrespect, that shouldnt automatically assume that the entirety of it is a negative action. The
actual definition of appropriation has no negative phrases that would presume cynical thoughts
upon the word itself. It isnt factual information that has given appropriation such a harsh
meaning, but the modern-day citizens.
In spite of the fact that cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation have different
definitions, that doesnt mean that one cannot appreciate while appropriating. Imagine this: being
surrounded by one culture for a lifetime and having to speak to that one culture of people
growing up, but not being the said culture yourself. One would automatically start to be
influenced by the mannerisms and way of dress, not because they are intending to steal their
culture away, but because that person is exposed to the said lifestyle daily, its automatically
assumed that one would start to follow the cultures traditions (Fragoso, 2016.) This example is
essentially what America is- a melting pot of different nationalities and cultures. Citizens
shouldnt be forced to stay within their culture, but embrace the cultures around them while also
respecting the said ethnicity.
Although appropriation shouldnt be assumed as a pessimistic thought, there are instances
where appropriation can be done in an incorrect and disrespectful manner. It is naive to be
inconsiderate of a cultures shortcomings when appropriating a style (Patterson, 2015.) For
example, situations where those who emulate an Indian bindi for a fashion statement is an
ignorant way of going about cultural appropriation and appreciation.

17
Appreciation and Appropriation are so similar and can act together but they can also be
drastically different in that theyre on two opposite ends of the spectrum. If done in the correct
way, they can both be viewed positively together.
Elements of other Cultures into Modern Fashion
Modern day fashion has been incorporating different elements from cultures for years.
The public has been the one to emphasize certain garments more than others, but in essence, it
doesnt matter what is being taken from what culture, theyre all forms of appropriation. A
common misconception about appropriation in modern day trends is that it has just recently
become an issuebut in fact; culture has been incorporated into trends for hundreds of years.
One of the most overlooked forms of appropriation is winged eyeliner. Winged eyeliner
has come from Ancient Egyptian and Arabic cultures due to the beauty that was founded behind
it. Ancient Egyptians wore minimal clothing as well as heavy accessories and jewelry to display
their wealth or titles in society (Fiber2Fashion.) Different headwear as well as cosmetic trends
have been taken and used in society since the early 1900s. Another commonly used garment that
has been appropriated is the Japanese Kimono. Japanese Kimonos are not as commonly used in
modern society, but at one point in time they were worn to indicate a religious holiday, a formal
meeting, or a family ceremony (JapanOrbit.) Kimonos have evolved over the years through
Japan, but recently in the 21st century developed a new look. Younger generations have started
to pair colorful fabrics with other trendy garments to produce a new fashion trend which is
commonly overlooked as a form of appropriation (Victoria&AlbertMuseum, 2016.)

18
Appropriation of black culture is one of the most predominate forms of appropriation in
society today. Scrutiny over natural hair styles has been argued over in media in recent years due
to the Black Lives Matter movement blowing up. Natural hair styles of the African American
community have been said to be unprofessional, and many people of the culture are severely
offended that the media has been portraying natural hairstyles as fashionable and unique
(Finley, 2015.) Baby hairs are one of the trends that have been used by the white community and
claimed as a new trend. Afros, cornrows, and dreadlocks are all hairstyles in which the black
community uses, but media sources and celebrities have appropriated them into new trendy
hairstyles (Finley, 2015.) Dreadlocks are seen as a predominately African hairstyle, according the
The Huffington Post; but dreadlocks can be noted in all cultures throughout history, including,
Ancient Egypt and Greece (Wikipedia, 2016.) On Francesca Ramseys 7 Myths about Cultural
Appreciation Debunked, issues are raised on lines between cultural appreciation and cultural
appropriation. She specifically mentions that natural hairstyles such as cornrows are often
mimicked by celebrities who dont face day-to-day oppression based on the hairstyle. Ramsey
speaks on white celebrities being praised for the same style that black people are being oppressed
and even fired for. The margin of appreciation and approbation is clearly drawn by Ramsey
within her web segment.
Additionally, Native American attire has been often appropriated. Native Americans
obtain eccentric headdresses composed of several colorful feathers that run down the back of a
person. The headdress has often been used in runway shows and music festivals as a unique style
(Fragoso, 2016.) The headdress was originally worn by Native American tribes that had
respected elders, or men within the tribe; therefore, women never wore these headdresses.
19
Lastly, Indian culture has commonly been seen through different interpretations of the
bindi. The bindi is a symbol of the Hindu culture, but has recently been worn as a fashion
accessory. Although the bindi doesnt carry significant meaning to all forms of Hinduism, the
thoughtlessness behind the new trend when worn is insulting to the culture (Avila, 2015.)
Indian Saris are also a form of appropriation within the culture. Saris were originally worn to
keep Indian women comfortable, covered, and conservative in the Indian heat, but are now being
worn with no purpose.
There are forms of appropriation all throughout different cultures and religions including
unmentioned ones such as Muslim hijabs, henna tattoos, and even chopsticks (Avila, 2015.) Even
though all cultural garments can be worn with cultural background thrown away, there are only
few appropriated examples that get media attention. Most modern trends have come from
another culture whether Americans choose to like it or not.
Influence of Culture in Media
The media is those in the public eye are gold mines when it comes to cultural
appropriation. Since fashion is a predominant factor in the lives of celebrities, they are constantly
striving to from new fashion trends to get noticed. This is performed by not only actresses,
singers, and dancers, but also models, and designers as well. Forms of appropriation are
displayed as minimally through twitter, or as drastically though New York Fashion Week and the
Red Carpet.
One of the more often appropriated cultures is the Hindu culture. There are so many
memorizing parts of the culture and fashion that icons are drawn into, automatically
appropriating the style. Bindis are a popular accessory to copy in recent years; they have often
20
been seen during music festivals. Vanessa Hudgens presented a glammed up version during
Coachella. Twitter took their own role in the use of the bindi during Coachella by protesting and
making the hash tag #Reclaimthebindi (Avila, 2015.) Selena Gomez also started to popularize
the bindi in modern fashion when she released her music video, Come and Get it, in 2013,
wearing the bindi all throughout. Gomez has also been seen to casually wear the bindi on a day-
today basis as a new trend (Avins, 2015.) Henna tattoos are also a popular trend in society, as
they are seen as a trendy temporary tattoo, instead of Hindu tradition (Ramsey, 2015.) The Indian
Sari was worn in 2013 by British first lady, Samantha Cameron. She wore the Sari to a Hindu
Temple to celebrate Diwali. This was seen as an example of cultural exchange; she was praised
by a temple goer due to her immense understanding and respect for the culture. Oprah also
accomplished something similar to this in 2012 when she wore a Salwar Kameez for the Jaipur
Literature Festival (Avila, 2015.)
Native American tribes have also been stripped of their cultural meaning during the
Victorias Secret Fashion Show in 2015, when Karlie Kloss went down the runway in a sexy
Native American bikini, as well as a feathered headdress. Kloss headdress was similar to Native
American war bonnet which has spiritual and ceremonial significance. The headdress can only
be worn by certain tribal member and the feathers are a symbol of dignity and honor that were
harshly taken away during the fashion show (Wikipedia, 2016.) Khloe Kardashian was also seen
wearing a Native American headdress on her birthday when she posted a photo on twitter. She
was scrutinized for her lack of understanding toward the culture. Headdresses are also seen at
music festivals as an accessory, some of the music festivals have prohibited feather headdresses.
A quote was released by The Guardian saying, Its anyones right to dress like an idiot at a
music festival, but someone elses sacred accessory shouldnt be such a casual accessory (Avila,
21
2015.) A Native American teen from Teen Vlogues also quoted, When I see people wearing
Native American accessories and they dont know the meaning behind it, I feel disrespected, its
not an accessory, its us; the quote draws attention to the fact that its all age groups that are
being offended toward the disrespect of knowledge toward the appropriation (Teen Vlogue,
2016.) Disney was also criticized for their interpretation of the Moana character through a
Halloween costume. The costume used a body suit that has several tribal tattoos on it. It was
claimed to have been a harsh embodiment of the Pacific Islander culture. Soon after the release
date of the costume, Disney released an apology of the interpretation and pulled the costume
from all stores and websites (Olsen, 2016.) An unfortunate situation also happened to Jean Paul
Gautier when he used tribal tattoos of the Maori tribe of New Zealand to sell sunglasses
(Ramsey, 2015.)
Rihanna was noted to have done cultural appropriation the right way when she arrived at
the 2015 Met Gala, themed China: Through the Looking Glass, wearing a fur-trimmed robe by
Gho Pei, a Beijing based Chinese designer whose work was also part of the Mets exhibitions
(Avins, 2015.) However, Emma Roberts was said to have been appropriating Chinese chopsticks
wrongly by putting them through her hair at the Met Gala. Roberts earned Twitter backlash for
the ignorance toward appropriation. The rise of kimono cardigans has also been commonly
used by fashion companies as a popular trend; these companies have been conveniently fitting
the name of the kimono with whatever fits the bill (Avila, 2015.) The last appropriation of the
Asian culture was seen when Katy Perry did a geisha performance with Japanese dancers in the
background. Perry not only wore the outfit with no significance, but she wore a geisha from
China, not Japan (Ramsey, 2015.)

22
Middle Eastern culture has also been inhumanly appropriated by the use of the burqua
and hijab. The Middle Eastern hijab have different meanings depending on the region in which
they are worn. The hijab has manifestations of culture practices and meanings that are within the
Middle Eastern traditions. These traditions are centered on religious, morality, sexuality, gender,
and honor (WhatWhenHow.) The significance was taken away during the 2016 New York
Fashion Week, when Anniesa Hasibaun, an Idnonesian Muslima sent her designs down the
runway. All of the (white) models had worn hijabs down the runway with no take to the cultural
meaning behind the headwear (Brown, 2016.) Khloe Kardashian also came under fire from
Twitter when posting a picture of her wearing a burqua, only exposing her eyes. Lady Gaga also
released a track in 2013 called Burqua that eroticized the garment worn by Muslim women;
she also wore the garment herself. The Washington Post commented You lost me when you
proceeded to turn such a sacred symbol of my religion into an exotic costume. On the other
hand, Angelina Jolie was commended for her cultural appreciation tactic when she wore a hijab
in Pakistan when volunteering with children (Avila, 2015.) The different uses of the hijab have
all lost the true meaning of what the garment is originally used for but media has perceived them
all in such different ways that lines between cultural appropriation and appreciation are fuzzy.
Perhaps one of the most controversial forms of appropriation in modern society is the
misuse of black culture. Elle U.K wrote that baby hair was a new trend and that it was inspired
by Givency and Katy Perry. The use of baby hair is now appearing on multiple white celebrities.
Kylie Jenner was also seen wearing faux dreadlocks for a Teen Vogue cover story; the cover
story said that Jenner was edgy, raw, and beautiful. Yet, when Zendaya (African- American
pop-star) wore the same hairstyle at the Oscars in February 2015, Fashion Police host,
Giuliania Racic said she looked like she smells like patchouli oil or weed. Teen Vogue also
23
used a white model for a Senegalese twists feature in June of 2015. Similarly, Allure magazine
gives white women a guide to get an afro, a traditionally black hairstyle (Finley, 2015.) An
interesting fact that was brought up by Fragoso in The Odyssey was, If white people wearing
braids, dreadlocks, and other hairstyles are dubbed as black hairstyles, then what does black
people perming their hair say? Are black people appropriating white culture? These questions
present an interesting bias that most people of the black culture would disagree with and argue.
The quote is just another reason in which cultural appropriation has such differentiated stances.
Limits and Solutions:
The wide range of opinions toward appropriation make it difficult to decide where the
line is drawn on what is okay to wear and what is disrespectful. According to the public opinion
poll, education in school systems would contribute to the naivet and ignorance toward the
subject of appropriation. Limits to cultural exchange will always be debatable but research of the
subject has drawn to a solution of education equaling lack of ignorance.
If secondary school systems were to incorporate portions of a history class dedicated to
what cultural appropriation, appreciation, and exchange were, then people would be less likely to
mimic such sacred garments of different cultures. There is a difference in appropriating winged
eyeliner and appropriating a Native American headdress. The difference between the two is the
line of religion. Wearing winged eyeliner doesnt have religious value behind it; therefore it is
deemed as a point of admiration for the culture, thus being a positive form of appropriation.
However, Native American headdresses are a point of religious significance to the tribe and
when one wears the headwear with no significance behind it but to make a fashion statement,
offensive appropriation comes into play.

24
Those who are educated on the subject tend to become less likely to appropriate such
religious attire because they are aware of the importance behind it. There is no guarantee to say
that appropriation will ever be solved, and that all people will stop appropriating attire, but,
education is one of the first steps that can be made to start the process.
CONCLUSION
Cultural Appropriation is not necessarily a negative aspect of society, but the strong
biases of media and publications on the subject make it viewed that way. Media has the
influence to sway people into thinking the way they interpret the subject. Most media sources
obtain the same bias, in that appropriation has a harmful effect on society, and that all publicized
forms of influence through cultural dress is disrespectful, but, that isnt always the case. It is
possible to show appreciation for a culture that is being appropriated.
Negative perspectives of appropriation on modern day trends have also come from
predominant issues in society such as race. White celebrities have caught heat from African-
Americans due to the usage of their hair styles. Those apart of the black culture make the
argument that one shouldnt wear a culture when they arent experiencing the same oppression
that the original culture receives for the same style. The discussion of limits then comes into play
as when it is okay and not okay to appropriate a fashion.
Limits of appropriation are always going to be unclear because everyone is entitled to
their own opinion on such a controversial issue; but, research has shown that several agree that
education will solve the issue and sensitivity toward the topic. Education through school systems
will eliminate ignorance and allow those who choose to appropriate attire for fashion reasons to
25
be aware of what theyre putting on their bodies. Knowledge of the subject will also create a
definition for limitations as to how far one should imitate a garment of significance. If a piece of
clothing is religious to a culture then one should be aware of such importance and know that a
large amount of disrespect comes into play when wearing the clothing piece. Although this
theory will always have its flaws, it is a plausible idea that has potential to guide those in the
right direction.
APPENDIX
Senior Project Interviews:
Interviewees:
Azia Alverez: Senior, Asian- American, Tallwood High School, 18 years old
Emily Walton: Senior, Caucasian, Ocean Lakes High School, 17 years old
Megan Hinton: Senior, Caucasian, Tallwood High School Global Studies and World Languages
Academy, 18 years old
Joseph Nguyen: Junior, Asian- American, Tallwood High School, 17 years old
Alexis Harmon: Sophomore, African- American. Hampton University, 19 years old
Esteban Martinez: Sophomore, Hispanic, Tidewater Community College, 19 years old
Chelsea Schmidt: Freshman, Asian- America, Virginia Commonwealth University, 18 years old
1) What is cultural appropriation to you:

Alverez: Taking the Importance of someones culture and making it a trend.
Walton: The blending of cultures into a working part of society.
26
Hinton: When youre outside of another culture and you attempt to recreate the culture
but there is no real knowledge of the culture.

Nguyen: Taking something from one culture and using it in another
Harmon: When people take parts of other cultures such as cornrows and not having to
deal with the cultural oppression.

Martinez: The use of symbols or trends or artifacts into other cultures.
Schmidt: People take other cultures and normalize it to fit their own.
2) Have you been personally affected by modern day appropriation, if so, how?
Alverez: Sometimes, being grouped into a certain type of Asian
Walton: No
Hinton: No
Nguyen: No
Harmon: Yes, it annoys me
Martinez: yes, it is disheartening and the question is of education and understanding
Schmidt: No
3) How do you think culture has influenced modern fashion?
Alverez: Greatly, it depends on how its looked at. People praise the designers for
appropriated attires when it has been around for a long time.

Walton: There are cornrows, hijabs, and kimonos
Hinton: Different cultures and different styles from those cultures are seen in modern
fashion.
Nguyen: Languages on shirts, traditional clothing brought to the US to modernize it.
Harmon: It made it harder to make the conversation to be brought up because people
dont want to talk about it. It is more secretive because people want to hide the fact that
they know its wrong

Martinez: Box braids which are from the 80s are appropriated from a different decade,
Native American fashion, Military jackets from different decades. I believe that
inspiration is one think but understanding the limitations from culture is another.
Schmidt: A lot more culture on the runways is seen; thats why the topic is coming up
more now than In the past.

4) Is there a line between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation or do you
view it in the same aspect?

Alvarez: Yes, when going back to clothing, everyone wears clothing that is similar to
cultural attires. If it is done in a respectful way then it is okay but is I were to wear a
27
Native American headdress then that is cultural appropriation. Appropriation is okay
when it is appropriated from cosmetic elements.

Walton: Yes, you know when it offends the culture you are appropriating, then it is no
longer appreciation
Hinton: There are cases when you can, a lot of it has to do with how youre trying to
immerse yourself within the culture. You should care about the culture in order to wear it.
Kendall Jenner wore a hijab for different intensions than Angelina Jolie wearing one
when volunteering in Pakistan.

Nguyen: Yes, once you cross the line of offensive wear
Harmon: Yes, it is very thin
Martinez: N/A
Schmidt: Yes, cultural appropriation isnt as bug of a deal as many people make it out to
be, my answer is biased because I havent been affected. If people go out and put it in
their fashion, it is more of inspiration.

5) If those who appropriate cultural attires, but are not ignorant to what is being
appropriated, is it acceptable?
Alvarez: Its a hard topic because theres a difference between cultural influence,
integration, and appropriation.

Walton: Yes, as long as the people who appropriate it are respectful and it doesnt offend
anyone. We need to be more accepting of cultures around the world.

Hinton: It isnt okay because the motivation behind it is to be set as a trend, not the
reason the garment is actually to be intended to wear. Religion brings up new boundaries
that otherwise wouldnt be seen.

Nguyen: Yes it is okay to a certain extent, even though it is getting done for non-
traditional purposes; just respect the reasons behind it. If youre doing it for a dumb
reason then it isnt okay.

Harmon: Yes until they are told otherwise, if you can take bits and parts of a culture that
you like but you dont have to go through the troubles then thats a problem. You wont
get stopped by the police for being black but youll still wear cornrows- that is the issue.
28
Martinez: In France, when the hijab was banned a lot of women wore headscarves as a
statement.
Schmidt: Yes, because it is appreciating the culture, it isnt limited to one person, people
just want to express themselves.

6) If Cultural Appropriation is such a dilemma in modern society, why is it just now
becoming predominated and why hasnt attire such as kimonos and fringe been
brought to the public eye sooner?

Alvarez: We are surrounded by a lot of social movements, everything is offending
someone and our generation is more socially aware.

Walton: Young people today have a larger platform to speak out against what bothers
them.
Hinton: Now is the time when more attention is being called to it because social media
and how globally connected the world is, before we werent able to call attention to these
issues and have it widely known. Its easy for ideas to spread.
Nguyen: Social media is becoming more sensitive to everything; our generation is so
easily offended.
Harmon: It has always been an issue and social media just brought numbers of opinions.
Martinez: People of color are growing tired, we are starting to force race conversation-
Cultural appropriation is a part of the race conversation.

Schmidt: Race issues have blown up and people are bringing out more reasons to hate
one another. Race issues are consistently increasing

7) Do you think appropriation is accepted as Halloween costumes, if so why or why
not?
Alvarez: Characters in costume form are different, everything else is not.
Walton: Yes, people are just too sensitive
Hinton: Wearing a costume is not cultural appropriation because it is a character, but if it
is a regular costume of another culture then it isnt oaky.

Nguyen: Yes all forms are okay unless it offends someone
Harmon: Characters have a thin pass, as soon as you put brown foundation on your skin
there is a problem. If you respect the culture and get rid of the ignorance then it is
acceptable.
29
Martinez: When getting into Halloween costumes its more of the intent that the issue.
Negative stereotypes in instance of college kids are the problem.

Schmidt: Yes, because movie characters are no appropriation. If the outfit of a culture is
appropriate and the intensions are good then thats okay. A lot of people are nave about
the costume they are wearing anyway.

8) Why do you think religious attire is as commonly appropriated as it is?
Alvarez: Due to cultural influence. Fashion is tricky because credit should be given. Its
all about respect that makes it appreciation. Being respectful toward a culture is
appreciation but when doing it for a trend, it Is appropration

Walton: Because it looks pretty
Hinton: Ignorance is a big part of it, people dont know what it means are its intent.
Nguyen: N/A
Harmon: When people go to other countries, they feel the need to appreciate the culture
by putting on the garment

Martinez: N/A
Schmidt: Some people might be a part of a different religion regardless of their look,
make sure to know their backstory

9) Is there a limit to what can be appropriated and what cant?
Alvarez: N/A
Walton: Wen it offends a religion then its too far
Hinton: All appropriation is the same, if its a part of a culture and valued by that culture
then it isnt okay to take it out of context and have a different culture use it.
Nguyen: People wear whatever they want
Harmon: I dont like cultural appropriation as a whole; my tolerance for it is very low
Martinez: Religion is where the concrete line is made. White people could be trying to
give solidarity to a minority group.

Schmidt: N/A
10) What in your opinion, is the solution to cultural appropriation
Alvarez: I hope a new generation will understand it more, appropriation will never go
away, but attention will be brought to it.

Walton: The solution is for people to stop being so sensitive
Hinton: Education is the biggest solution because eliminating ignorance will end
appropriation.
Nguyen: N/A
30
Harmon: The solution is to have cultural classes that are not rated or run by the school
district.
Martinez: The main solution is education- its the more important tool of all. Cultural
appropriation can be healthy and demonstrate a more inclusive world.

Schmidt:
REFERENCES
Avila, T. (2015, July 20). Here Are 5 Cultural Appropriating Outfits It's Time to Retire for Good.
Retrieved December 11, 2016, from https://everydayfeminism.com/2015/07/cultural-
appropriating-outfits/
Avins, J. (2015, January 20). The Do's and Don'ts of Cultural Appropriation. Retrieved
December 11, 2016, from http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/10/the-
dos-and-donts-of-cultural-appropriation/411292/
Brown, A. (2016, September 12). Articles: Countdown to burqas on fashion show runways.
Retrieved December 11, 2016, from
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/09/countdown_to_burqas_on_fashion_sho
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Cultural appropriation in the fashion industry. Retrieved December 11, 2016,
from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_appropriation_in_the_fashion_industry
31
Fibre2Fashion. (n.d.). Does Culture of Any Region Affect Its Fashion Trends. Retrieved
December 11, 2016, from http://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/6189/does-
culture
Finley, T. (2015, December 16). 10 Times Balck Culture was appropriated in 2015. Retrieved
November 28, 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/10-times-black-culture-
was-appropriated-in-2015_us_566ee11de4b011b83a6bd660
Fragoso, B. (2016, April 18). Cultural Appropriation Vs. Cultural Appreciation. Retrieved
December 11, 2016, from https://www.theodysseyonline.com/cultural-appropriation-vs-
cultural-appreciation
Http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAUO8EhsSTz02stvKDupChQ. (2015). Retrieved
December 11, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXejDhRGOuI
Jabago. (n.d.). Advertisement. Retrieved December 11, 2016, from
http://www.japanorbit.com/japanese-culture/japanese-fashion-japan.html
Olsen, M. (2016, September 22). DIsney pulls "Moana" costumes for children amid CUltural
Appropriation Uproar. Retrieved December 11, 2016, from
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-disney-moana-costume-
controversy-20160922-snap-htmlstory.html
Patterson, S. (2015). Why Cultural Appropriation Is Actually A Good Thing. Retrieved
December 11, 2016, from http://thoughtcatalog.com/steve-patterson/2015/11/why-
cultural-appropriation-is-actually-a-good-thing/
32
Quynh. (n.d.). Cultural Appropriation Vs. Cultural Appreciation. Retrieved December 11, 2016,
from http://www.psych2go.net/cultural-appreciation-vs-cultural-appropriation/
Tazi, T. (2015). How to culturally appreciate and not culturally appropriate. Retrieved December
11, 2016, from http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/28767/1/how-to-
culturally-appreciate-and-not-culturally-appropriate
VictoriaandAlbertMuseum. (n.d.). Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved December 11, 2016,
from http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/h/a-history-of-the-kimono/
Watkins, A. (2016, December 04). For my senior project: Is it acceptable for white people to
wear corn rows. Retrieved December 11, 2016, from
https://twitter.com/AbbieWatkins_/status/805633727628017664
Watkins, A. (2016, December 04). Senior pj poll: Is it okay for non muslim citizens to wear head
scarves / hijabs in public. Retrieved December 11, 2016, from
https://twitter.com/AbbieWatkins_/status/805635036557021184
What-When-How. (n.d.). CLOTHING AND FASHION, MIDDLE EAST (Western Colonialism).
Retrieved December 11, 2016, from http://what-when-how.com/western-
colonialism/clothing-and-fashion-middle-east-western-colonialism/
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Dreadlocks. Retrieved December 11, 2016, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreadlocks
T. (2016, April 21). Retrieved December 11, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=HZFPIc3bJS8

Senior Project Paper Whole

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Senior Project Paper Whole

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

1

Influence of Cultural Appropriation on Fashion Trends

Influence of Cultural Appropriation on Fashion Trends:

Analyzing the Effects of Cultural Appropriation

Instructor: Gregory Falls

Global Studies and World Languages Academy

Appreciations vs. Appropriation15

Elements of other Cultures in Modern Society.17

Influence of Culture in Media19

Limits and Solution...22

and know the limits to which appropriation shouldnt occur.

fashion includes elements of other cultures, and avoid ignorance of appropriation.

no reference as to what appropriation might be present. From wearing a garment as a common as

when is it utterly offensive?

There is a difference between appropriating a nationalities clothing because of interest in

appreciation is and what misappropriation is.

question of whether and when appropriation is accepted in modern society.

It is difficult to find a stance on the question of research when personal experience is

the research is going.

hinder an accurate representation and complete answer to the question at hand.

concluded through the following evidence as mere ignorance.

based upon a country's culture.

ignorance of the garment.

them automatically being deemed as fashionable. Although this is a form of modern-day

appropriation, it can also be viewed as appreciation of black culture.

What-when-how.com expresses matters of traditional attire that has been incorporated

meaning behind cultural garments.

appropriation as taking a marginalized or oppressed group of peoples cultural practices and

appropriation will do away with it as well.

According to Dounia Tazi on DazedDigital.com, there is a fine line between culture

they cant be differentiated.

of the human that no one has control over.

and personal experience.

trends, and normalization. An overwhelming amount of responses concluded that cultural

appropriation confirms why the subject has such a pessimistic connotation.

manner, its disrespectful.

said appropriation will be eliminated as well.

stances on appropriation of Halloween costumes in modern day society. In society

misappropriation of costumes such as Native American wear, or Indian attire is viewed as a

admiration of the attire.

experience of appropriation does form opposite biases.

proving the thesis correct.

connecting individual thoughts with matters of personal experience and knowledge

Appreciation versus Appropriation

Cultural appropriation is defined as the adoption or use of elements of one culture by

meaning, but the modern-day citizens.

respecting the said ethnicity.

Although appropriation shouldnt be assumed as a pessimistic thought, there are instances

where appropriation can be done in an incorrect and disrespectful manner. It is naive to be

inconsiderate of a cultures shortcomings when appropriating a style (Patterson, 2015.) For

ignorant way of going about cultural appropriation and appreciation.

way, they can both be viewed positively together.

Elements of other Cultures into Modern Fashion

commonly overlooked as a form of appropriation (Victoria&AlbertMuseum, 2016.)

within her web segment.

worn with no purpose.

another culture whether Americans choose to like it or not.

Influence of Culture in Media

Literature Festival (Avila, 2015.)

China, not Japan (Ramsey, 2015.)

Limits and Solutions:

subject has drawn to a solution of education equaling lack of ignorance.

If secondary school systems were to incorporate portions of a history class dedicated to