With henna booths and stores popping up in towns and festivals all over the U.S. as well as the growing availability of henna kits, these temporary tattoos are becoming Many of the world’s 27 million Sikhs both men and women - wear the turban.It covers the knot of hair which followers of Sikhism.
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Sikh commentators and organisations have criticised Gucci for using turbans in a recent runway show, saying the fashion brand has culturally appropriat-
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Sikh commentators and organisations have criticised Gucci for using turbans in a recent runway show, saying the fashion brand has culturally appropriated their religious headpiece. A host of models wore turbans in Gucci’s show on Wednesday as part of Milan fashion week. By Friday, thousands had shared messages of anger and disappointment that the brand had used the Sikh religious symbol for profit. Many of the world’s 27 million Sikhs both men and women - wear the turban. It covers the knot of hair which followers of Sikhism allow to grow naturally out of respect for God’s creation. Most Sikhs live in India. The models who wore the Gucci turban were mostly of European origin. The New York-based Sikh Coalition civil rights group tweeted on Friday: “The Sikh turban is a sacred article of faith, @gucci, not a mere fashion accessory. #appropriation. We are available for further education and consultation if you are looking for observant Sikh models.” In a tweet shared by 1,500 people, India-based restauranteur Harjinder Singh Kukreja said: “Dear @gucci, the Sikh Turban is not a hot new accessory for white models but an article of faith for practising Sikhs. Your models have used Turbans as ‘hats’ whereas practising Sikhs tie them
neatly fold-by-fold. Using fake Sikhs/Turbans is worse than selling fake Gucci products.” Diaspora Sikhs in the West were particularly targeted in the post 9/11 era, when followers of the faith were frequently mistaken for Muslims, and attacked. Tina Daheley, a British broadcaster born to a Sikh family, was among those who shared the story of a racist attack in Britain, which took place on Wednesday. An Indian Sikh man had been waiting at parliament in London to meet Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, a Labour Party MP, when an attacker attempted to rip off his headpiece and said “Muslim go back home”. There are more than 400,000 Sikhs in Great Britain. “While Gucci sends white models down the catwalk wearing turbans, a Sikh environmentalist has his turban ripped off outside parliament in a hate attack. As someone whose family has been on the receiving end of this sh** for decades, this is utterly depressing,” said Daheley. Fashion brands are frequently scrutinised for cultural appropriation. Earlier in February, high-street retailer Zara was mocked online for selling a checkered skirt that had a striking resemblance to a lungi, a loose garment worn by men in South Asia
Sikh commentators and organisations have criticised Gucci for using turbans in a recent runway show, saying the fashion brand has culturally appropriated their religious headpiece.A host of models wore turbans in Gucci’s show on Wednesday as part of Milan fashion week. By Friday, thousands had shared messages of anger and disappointment that the brand had used the Sikh religious symbol for profit.
It covers the knot of hair which followers of Sikhism allow to grow naturally out of respect for God’s creation. Most Sikhs live in India. The models who wore the Gucci turban were mostly of European origin.
The New York-based Sikh Coalition civil rights group tweeted on Friday: “The Sikh turban is a sacred article of faith, @gucci, not a mere fashMany of the world’s 27 million Sikhs - ion accessory. #appropriation. We are availaboth men and women - wear the turban. ble for further education and consultation if
Diaspora Sikhs in the West were particularly targeted in the post 9/11 era, when followers of the faith were frequently mistaken for Muslims, and attacked.Tina Daheley, a British broadcaster born to a Sikh family, was among those who shared the story of a racist attack in Britain, which took place on Wednesday. An Indian Sikh man had been waiting at parliament in London to meet Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, a Labour Party MP, when an attacker attempted to rip off his head-
Through out the years, we received many questions. However, the most common questions we often get asked by non-Muslims are: “Would Muslims be offended if non-Muslims wear the hijab for a day? Would it be considered as cultural appropriation?� So, we asked these questions directly to Muslims on our social media While the organization has received criticism in recent years for promoting cultural appropriation and slut-shaming, it has played an undeniably vital role in bringing to light the struggle of millions of hijabis around the world. It has also sparked an important debate on cultural appropriation and dressing in solidarity with Muslim women. some of the most frequently asked questions pertaining to the subject.
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Countries across Asia and beyond are mired When I wear the bindi, it makes me conin a history of oppression. For many of us, servative and traditional, but if Vanesthe oppression is far from over, and we still sa Hudgens wears a bindi, it’s “cool?” exist within marginalized communities. To add further insult to injury, ASOS decidOver the years, the racial microaggressions ed that bindis were a Halloween accessory that offend and upset us have mutated, but (thanks, ASOS, for putting the bindi in the they are aggressions all the same. Look at same category as skeleton leggings). Thankit this way: When you have been colonized, fully the uproar from ASOS consumers made had your finery stolen, and your identity the company remove the selection on bindis. poked fun at, cultural appropriation is not just personal; it points to a bigger picture. Let’s go through a list ten of the most The 2013 poster campaign “We’re a Cul- widely appropriated South Asian acture, Not a Costume” by Ohio Universi- cessories and what they really mean. ty highlighted how problematic it is to view To add further insult to injury, ASOS decidsomeone else’s culture as make believe. ed that bindis were a Halloween accessory (thanks, ASOS, for putting the bindi in the As an Indian woman, I don’t know where same category as skeleton leggings). Thankto start with the appropriation of Indian fully the uproar from ASOS consumers made culture. I get it. We have opulence, gran- the company remove the selection on bindis. deur, and a rich culture that evokes thoughts widely appropriated South Asian acsuch as “mysticism” and “exoticism.” cessories and what they really mean.
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Sifting through the illuminated webpages of social media sites such as Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter, it is practically inevitable to come across a photograph of skin adorned with the intricate, brown-red patterns of henna. Many celebrities, including Rihanna, Ariana Grande, and Gigi Hadid, have openly sported the traditional designs and have therefore given way to the increasing popularity of henna. With henna booths and stores popping up in towns and festivals all over the U.S. as well as the growing availability of henna kits, these temporary tattoos are becoming commonplace in American society and easier to attain. To some, these beautiful, wearable artworks are harmless, but the nontraditional wearing of henna has been met with widespread outcries of cultural appropriation. The artform of henna, called mehndi in Hindi and Urdu, has been practiced for thousands of years in India, Africa, Pakistan, and the Mid-
Sifting through the illuminated webpages of social media sites such as Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter, it is practically inevitable to come across a photograph of skin adorned with the intricate, brown-red patterns of henna. Many celebrities, including Rihanna, Ariana Grande, and Gigi Hadid, have openly sported the traditional designs and have therefore given way to the increasing popularity of henna. With henna booths and stores popping up in towns and festivals all over the U.S. as well as the growing availability of henna kits, these temporary tattoos are becoming commonplace in American society and easier to attain. To some, these beautiful, wearable artworks are harmless, but the nontraditional wearing of henna has been met with widespread outcries of cultural appropriation. The artform of henna, called mehndi in Hindi and Urdu, has been practiced for thousands of
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