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| Chief Joseph wears a Pendleton Blanket in 1901, which today is seen in stores and on many people, causing controversy. |
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| This Pendleton travel bag is found at Urban Outfitters for $180, a clothing retailer that has recently cause controversy with its own "Navajo" line. |
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| Jessica Simpson and her husband spotted supporting the "Navajo" native look. |
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| The two takes on Native American fashion are very diverse. Victoria Secret model(left) and Taos Pueblo designer Patricia Michaelis(right). |
Controversy has been evolving for
years. Controversy has come about recently through Native Americans. Stores
such as Urban Outfitters, H&M, and many more have a different understanding
of this so called “Navajo” look. Controversy surrounds the use of Native
American labels, motifs, symbols, and products in the Fashion Industry. Urban
Outfitters, Victoria’s Secret model, Karlie Kloss, and Gwen Stefani’s music
video, spark controversy to the Native Americans.
Native Americans have a different idea of this
“Native look.” To them, it is a lifestyle, and they take that seriously. To
fashion industries, it is seen as just a fun pattern, that will go out the door
fast. Urban Outfitters is a store that has abused the Natives “Navajo” look.
Almost all Native Americans wear the Navajo pattern; it is an essential to
their lifestyle. Urban Outfitters sold a “Navajo line” until asked to remove
all Navajo items off the shelf. Navajo
panties, Navajo socks, Navajo flasks, and even Navajo patterned “sleep over”
bags were sold at Urban Outfitters. Urban outfitters was selling a lifestyle
for under 180 dollars. After this was pointed out to the Natives, they
pressured for all “Navajo” items to be removed off the shelves. The Natives did
not see this as a compliment; they saw it as an embarrassment.
Not
only was a store calling about the controversy, Victoria’s Secret model was too.
Karlie Kloss walked that runway in a feathered headdress and skimpy clothing. She
walked the runway without a care in the world, believing that she looked like
the best Native American there ever was, while the true Natives did not even
know that their own kind dressed this way. The Natives could not believe that
others had this view of them. The Natives saw this as a joke, and believed that
Victoria’s Secret was mimicking them. Karlie Kloss could have walked the runway
in her skimpy outfit if that’s what she was about, but the Navajo print and
feathery headdress obviously would bring about controversy to the Natives.
The
Native Americans were about done with this, when Gwen Stefani was spotted in a
full out feathered headdress in her music video, riding horseback. The Natives
believed that Stefani did not have a clue of what she was doing, or whom she was
mimicking. Fashion Industries may
believe that they understand how to a dress a model, or celebrity in her music
video, but some circumstances are taken way to far. Some cases are brought
about as a bigger deal than they actually are, but a culture being mimicked and
taken as a “joke” is not right or fair. Gwen Stefani could have cut the
headdress out of her video. The headdress was one step to far, and the Natives
were going to put an end to this, no matter how much effort it took.
Controversy
was seen through Urban Outfitters, Victoria’s Secret model, and Gwen Stefani.
Controversy surrounds the use of Native Americans labels, motifs, and products
in the Fashion Industry. Fashion Industries take that one step to far, which
brings around controversy and problems into the culture. Overall, Natives are being
compared to cheap objects. Their own culture was being sold in a flask and
skimpy panties, and that’s why it brought controversy to the table.
