Cultural appropriation is (unfortunately) prevalent in the fashion industry across the globe. There have been instances of brands using sacred artifacts of a different culture as accessories on the runway as well as blatant misrepresentation without due credits.
The most recent case that has come under the scanner is that of Delhi-based Kaku Fancy Dress selling animal print outfits under the tag of “Tribal Nagaland costume”. People pointed out that the Chakhesang Naga attire is nowhere close to what’s being marketed as traditional.
Recently, it has come to our notice that certain sellers on Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal are selling grossly…
Posted by Decolonial Indigenous Memes on Wednesday, July 8, 2020
The brand also has problematic listings for Mizo and Assamese outfits. Which is why Twitter users are calling for them to be taken down. Some have suggested that the seller consults Northeastern experts before designing these costumes.
Folks of #Assam, this is what sold in @amazonIN @AmazonHelp as traditional #Bihu costumes!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/kr0QqmYrkw
— Assam Bhumiputro (@AxomBhumiputro) July 8, 2020
. @Flipkart Non of the tribes in Nagaland has leopard print as their traditional attire. Stop this misrepresentation! @WeTheNagas pic.twitter.com/mOZ1Hvz4LE
— Chichanbeni Kithan (@Chichan_Beni) July 8, 2020
Hi @Flipkart, These are not even close to what Naga/Mizo traditional attire looks like. These need to be taken down & the seller should consult with experts from northeast India before uploading any tribal “Fancy Dress”. This amounts to cultural appropriation & misrepresentation pic.twitter.com/aE2fXFVpRl
— aloli achumi (@aloleeeee) July 8, 2020
@Flipkart This is not what my traditional attire looks like. I am offended my traditional attire is represented this way. What is this? animal print ?"NON" of Naga tribes have attires with animal print.
I request you to remove this misinterpretation of my culture and my attire. pic.twitter.com/YUJWZq4eoo— Min Dynasty⁷ (@SamtheShooketh) July 8, 2020
So this Delhi based company called Kaku Fancy Dresses is passing off strange leopard prints clothes as Naga Attire, also being sold in Amazon, Flipkart etc. They have also misrepresented dresses of other NE states. I will try to call them tmrw and TALK. pic.twitter.com/2m5g8mYjxk
— Manoranjan Pegu (@manoranjanpegu) July 8, 2020
These do not even belong to any Naga tribe, why even include “trible” or “Nagaland”? However the bigger issue is the appropriation of tribal attire and culture. We do not exist for your fetish or for your fancy dresses and Halloween costumes. @Flipkart pic.twitter.com/IWCSioT1er
— Kekhrie Yaotsu (@KekhrieYaotsu) July 8, 2020
Fancy dress competitions are a great place for kids to see and learn about different professions, cultures, and their attires. But if the costumes themselves are inauthentic or racist in nature, they can do more harm than good.