Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-culture/mexico-demands-explanation-from-french-designer-isabel-marant-over-indigenous-designs-idUSKBN27L03X
For years, members of the fashion industry have been known to commodify and appropriate culturally significant styles from all over the world. Upon the release of her latest fashion line, French designer Isabel Marant was questioned regarding her use of patterns from indigenous Mexican communities, which have great cultural significance. The problem does not stop with her though. In 2015, the same company was similarly accused of appropriating designs from another cultural group in Mexico, and in 2019, Venezuelan-born designer Carolina Herrerra and French fashion house Louis Vuitton were found to be using traditional patterns in their designs. There have been many more instances of cultural appropriation where companies will turn significant sayings or designs into fast fashion.
World leaders have begun to make a habit of calling out the unethical use of culturally-significant patterns and garments in an effort to preserve the sanctity of these cultures as they resist being lost to Westernization. The problem is that these fashion designers use traditional patterns and garment designs that are of deep importance to cultures that have been around for generations, some even centuries. If they do not at least give credit to the people who first created them, they do a great disservice to them and their ancestors, as well as diminishing their cultural value to the community.
Although this trend of using culturally significant designs is dishonorable, many designers who use their culture to create fashion in a respectable way are being highlighted in the media with traditional holidays or days of remembrance.
In relation to the U.S., many clothing stores sell items with the American Flag. Many Veterans say that it’s disrespectful for the flag to be worn, but others view it as freedom of speech. By this logic, other westernized cultures such as France might have varying levels of respect for culturally significant patterns and images.