Call out & empower

The fashion industry has consistently and notoriously appropriated a variety of minority cultures for profit. From magazine editorials, to couture on the runway, the industry has commodified black culture as a means for trend, and failed to recognize any sort of cultural value or recognition for the black community. However, it is our responsibility to call out these corporations and empower consumers to recognize the appropriation that the fashion industy capitalizes on, and offer alternative sources. For more examples and information check out our zine: 
https://joom.ag/YQBQ

Trending Issue: The Dashiki

 In 2015 Elle Canada named the Dashiki (a traditional West African gard originating in Ghana), the "newest it-item to note". Elle made claims that the dashiki is the "new kaftan", while totally disregarding any cultural value or acknowledgement for West African culture. The article featured white women sporting the dashiki as a tunic or a beach cover, totally devaluing and dismissing any sort of cultural meaning that the dashiki has in African culture. While this garment has existed as a part of traditional black cultre for decades, white mainstream media only deemed it as fashionable once white women started wearing it, and subsequently profiting from this hegemonice recliaming of another culture. 

Empower the consumer: ACTIVISTS

Using media to spread awareness is key in this generation. Youtube vloggers like Kat Blaque use their media influence to talk about hot button issues such as race, gender, and appropriation. 

Appropriating the runway

The Spring 2016 Valentino collection  showcased a cast of predominantly white girls (eight out of the show’s 87 looks were given to black models), the clothes were inspired by “wild, tribal Africa”. The maison described it as “Primitive, tribal, spiritual, yet regal”, the collection was a “journey to the beginning of time & the essential of primitive nature.”
Tropes typically associated with the continent were incorporated, including bone necklaces, Kikuyu textiles, raffia, belts made from African trade beads, embellishment and embroidering, feathers and fringing. The models themselves wore their hair in cornrows and dreadlocks.

INstagram active

Beauty Blogger & Instagramer Aisha Ibrahim states that she started her platform after noticing "there was quite a disparity in black Muslim influencers on social media platforms, so I feel like I appeal to girls like me who may find it hard to wear the hijab and still stay fly". (Galore Magazine Interview, December 2016). ​

See Some Examples