Topic: Cultural appropriation
I am interested in cultural appropriation because many artists take sources of information from a time or culture and incorporate it into their work. I think that the debate underlying this issue is interesting because there is a grey area in which garments can become gaudy and make fun of a culture or society. I have learned about this cultural appropriation debate as I have done research on the topic, and think that most designers using cultural appropriation in their work are not trying to cause debate, but rather to emulate a culture and transform it into a modern design. I like to pull inspirations form geographical places and cultures as a designer because it allows me to learn about history and create a story in which the designs are based. Combining two juxtaposing cultures or ideas in a garment for example creates a complex story to act as the basis for a collection. I also enjoy traveling and photographing the places I travel around the world, so I think that this has influenced me to gravitate towards cultural appropriation. When traveling, one feels like they become a part of the rhythm and culture of the society they have entered. I feel this way when I travel to another city, state, or country, so I like to translate this idea through fashion.
One way that I think I can learn more about cultures that I have not experienced is by exploring them through a design lens. This topic of combining two cultures incorporates the lederhosen tradition from Bavarian culture with ethnic embroidery from East Asia. I think this combination clashes cultures and can push a design to become new and fun. Through my research already, I have learned about designers that use cultural appropriation, which is very consistent in American fashion because the country is a melting pot of cultures.
Fashion is a medium in which artists are constantly pulling inspirations from culture in order to create new cultural movements. Ralph Lauren, for example, recently pulled inspiration from western American culture for his AW15 ready-to-wear collection. This will have a strong influence on trends and create a resurgence of old-western in modern fashion. I am absorbed in the story and inspirations behind fashion, and I think that cultural appropriation allows for designers to create these stories. Designers create fantasies based on certain cultures, people, places, art movements, food, and more. These are all inspirations that can transform a culture and translate it through a medium that is easily accessible. On one side, companies that create fast-fashion may scale down the meaning behind a cultural inspiration, by taking away the traditional craft. On the other side, I think that this is still a nod to another culture, which creates an interest in that place and history by those who interact with the garments.
The topic of cultural appropriation is very apparent in society because it creates a debate centering on the idea of stealing ideas versus using ideas for inspirations. With the creation of mood boards, and image researching, I think it is clear that designers and artists alike draw inspiration from the world around them. Now with the technology that we have today, it is easy to access fashion statements, art trends, or design ideas from across the world. This accessibility allows for the designer to take ideas from other cultures instantly. The world is connected, so artists and designers should be too. This opens up the interest to learn about other cultures in new ways and to reminisce about the times before us. I think that this topic can not only create a mix between cultures in order to create a new spin on old ideas, but also force the audience to rethink the debate on cultural appropriation and its necessity in our society.
