Cultural appropriation has been a very controversial topic now more than ever in a very torn America. Finally, there has been an event that correctly displays indigenous culture and its people. But the first ever event of its kind, happened in Canada.
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Since we began wearing clothes, there has always been a meaning behind most of our garments. Whether it be a necklace or a shirt, fashion has always been meant to portray a story. And that is exactly the style of Canada’s Aboriginal people. Being one of the oldest civilizations on earth, their traditions and native costumes have been used in ways that have been considered inappropriate by the community.
A few months ago, the first ever Indigenous Fashion Week was held in Vancouver, Canada. It was created by the First Peoples as a reclamation of their long-lasting heritage. Aboriginal style has been around for around 14,000 years and has been used a good amount in mainstream fashion. Native patterns and headdresses have marks all over pop culture and across hundreds of fashion magazines. Not many people realize the designs and styles have hardly ever been used correctly.
“Cultural Appropriation is a touchy subject”, founder of label EMME, Korina Emmerich says, “While I don’t feel it comes from racism, I do feel it comes from a place of ignorance. So, I urge people to do their research”.
Held in July 2017, the inaugural Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week was created as a way to show consumers, who want to wear native style clothes, how they can wear it respectfully while also buying it from First Nations designers. The event was over the course of four days and showcased Aboriginal designers and models.
“I think Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week is incredibly important to highlight Indigenous designers”, Emmerich says, “Many designers today are inspired by Indigenous regalia, but often miss the mark on representing it in an appropriate and respectful way”.
Many of the VIFW collections paid tribute to the designers’ heritage and homelands. They accomplished this by using a mix of natural materials and traditional handicraft methods with a contemporary aesthetic.
Emmerich was one of the more established artist showcased at the Indigenous Fashion Week. The designer competed in the U.S ‘Project Runway’ and was shown at Mercedez Benz Fashion Week in New York.
Esquiro was another established fashion designer as well. She Creates contemporary designs using traditional techniques with recycled textiles and ethically sourced wool, fur, and leather. She is one of the few Canadian Aboriginal fashion designers who has international attention. Recently she became the first native designer to be a part of the first fashion show on the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
“Opportunities like this are things that a girl from a small community, like myself, could never dream of”, Esquiro says.
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In menswear, Curtis Oland is the name that sticks out. Having been named ‘top emerging talent’ at last year’s Toronto Men’s Fashion Week, Oland gets most of his inspiration for his Lil’wat First Nation heritage.
Culture appropriation, for the time being, will be a touchy subject but with events like these kinds will surely help non-indigenous people to understand and respect the cultures. The VIFW was a huge success and there are plans already to make the event annually.
