Whenever we bring up this idea of cultural appropriation in the fashion industry, there are always those that believe it’s a problem and others that see it as artistic expression while cultures fumble on the ever-sensitive lines of cultural identity.
Well in a very personable yet appropriate interview with MTV, British model Leomie Anderson finally says the thing many of us have been TRYING to say, yet words it in a way that clearly explains why there’s so much heated frustration behind cultural appropriation of the black community in the fashion world. Check it out:
I loved her proper execution of the Kim Kardashian ‘boxer-braids’ that circulated the Internet, with her saying, “‘That’s a hairstyle that’s very traditional to black culture, and they’re saying […] “Oh, Kim K started this new trend” […] it’s really insulting, I would say.’” Yeah, I would have to agree that it didn’t start with Kim. At all.
Some of the other key takeaways from her interview included the issues faced by black models during fashion week, especially when it comes to makeup artists and the extreme lack of preparation for makeup kits well-equipped for various skin tones. “‘’Of course I get given to the makeup artist who had ONE brown foundation she was trying to mix with white on a sly because she’s not equipped,’ she tweeted. ‘Why can a white model […] sit in anyone’s chair and feel confident they’ll look okay but black models have to worry?’”
Veteran model Naomi Campbell recently backed up Leomie’s comments in an interview with Teen Vogue, explaining, ‘When I was younger, I encountered this same issue. I would be backstage at shows and there would be stylists who didn’t have any experience working with black models […] I’d always just bring my own products – my own make-up colours, hair products, everything – just to be sure that I had everything I needed to achieve a certain look. It’s disappointing to hear that models of colour are still encountering these same issues all these years later.’
At the end of the day, Anderson’s ideas of cultural appropriation struck home for me, when she explained, “‘They take a lot of inspiration from black culture – African art, for example – and then when it doesn’t translate onto the runway, of course it does make people upset – why are we not included?’”
This goes from our hair to our make-up to even our representation on catwalks and runways. I believe we need to continue to speak to these topics and issues, and not silence our voices just because an improvement gets made here or there or because we feel nothing is happening. Change happens when we continue to push for change.
What do you think of Leomie’s thoughts and opinions on cultural appropriation? What steps are needed to continue to progress forward and fight a systematic exclusion of color while simultaneously using said-color for campaign ads and other ideas of beauty?