Ethnically Speaking

 

It struck me that today is Columbus Day. Although it's a cause for celebration for the Italian American population across the nation, it's also a day of mourning for the Native Americans.

The history is pretty clear. Europe sucked, Columbus had three boats, got lucky, landed and then plotted to conquer the very same people who welcomed him to the not-so-new-to-them continent. Nothing like waking up the next day and have your house guest turn you into a plantation slave. But I'm not a moralist. I'm a blogger who's fascinated with how cultural identities are still being taken.

Even though designers have no cultural ties to certain African tribes (see image), they happen to take a luxe safari to Africa once; and they just loved how the Masai warriors made a mean knitted sweater/scarf. The kernel of inspiration is what inspired the entire collection. Some of it is truly inspired but most of it just looks out of place especially when a blond blue-eyed Swede from the mountains is trying his best to rock his fiercest Masai warrior. The spray tan helps but is still unconvincing.

The only point I want to make today is that we are ravage consumers who will take what we can if we can do it without punishment. Chanel once tried to make dresses with phrases from the Koran but were quickly threatened with terrorism. But put the ancient print of a Native American tribe onto the latest tote bag and the kids at Opening Ceremony just can't get enough of it.

Okay, my tote bag is from Ralph Lauren.

YES: It's okay to be a hypocrite, just be aware that you are being one
NO: You should limit yourself to only subtle uses of a tribal print or you'll look like that random white guy in the rap video
MAYBE: You can wear the tribal print head to toe if you are from that tribe holding the spear