eBay Canada Teamed Up With Indigenous Artists To Create Wearable, Non-Appropriated Art
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Originally Published: https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/10/13/ebay-indigenous-artist-collaboration_n_12362326.html
On multiple occasions, the fashion world has been accused of cultural appropriation — the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of a different culture as a largely negative phenomenon.
From teenagers wearing headdress to music festival, to celebrities flaunting aboriginal wear on Instagram, indigenous culture has become some sort of "fashion accessory," as one Twitter user puts it. The fashion world has somehow co-opted elements of an indigenous culture into photoshoots and performances, often with an insensitivity and lack of respect for the spiritual and cultural elements of aboriginal culture that thrives on its history and people.
But an eBay Canada collaboration with indigenous artists Jordan Bennett and Patrick Hunter is out to prove the fashion industry can work hand in hand with aboriginal communities to create something that is respectful and has integrity.
They're attempting to do that with an exclusive fall designer collaboration featuring four limited-edition scarves created by Bennett and Hunter. Each scarf is what eBay calls "wearable art," featuring prints that bring together the designs and symbols from the artist's heritage with a modern, fashion-forward aesthetic.