Colorful dreadlocks and 60’s inspired bright platforms rocked the fashion world at Marc Jacobs Spring 2017 runway show at New York Fashion Week, but there was also a lot of criticism for his choice of hair do.
Redken’s global creative director and hair stylist for the show, Guido Palau spoke with Harpers Bazaar and said that Marc Jacobs inspiration for the collection came from Trans director, Lana Wachowski as well as, “certain types of cultures, like rave culture, club culture, acid house, Boy George, and Marilyn.” The bright metallic skirts and dresses were very reminiscent of outfits you’d expect to see at a Disco and were paired were beautiful embroidered jackets.
There has been a lot controversy of the show and its use of cultural appropriation, where predominantly white models were wearing what is traditionally known to be an African American Hairstyle. After the show twitter blew up with people sharing their opinions on the dreads that the models were wearing at Marc Jacob’s show. One woman on twitter wrote, “ An unknown black man/women has dreads, it is assumed they smoke and/or are unprofessional. Marc Jacobs has a model with dreads it’s boho chic.” Things really got heated after Marc Jacobs decided to respond on the criticism on his instagram and wrote, “All who cry ‘cultural appropriation’ or whatever nonsense about any race of skin color wearing their hair in any particular style or manner- funny how you don’t criticize women of color for straightening their hair. I respect and am inspired by people and how they look. I don’t see color or race-I see people.”
Cultural appropriation as defined by Wiki is, “the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of another culture. Marc Jacobs show wasn’t the first incident where cultural appropriation and fashion were a controversy. Last year, Valentino faced a lot of criticism for sending his models down the runway with their hair up in cornrow buns. Another example would be in 2012 at the Victoria Secret annual fashion show, super model Karlie Kloss was scrutinized for wearing a Native American headdress in the runway show. The question now is how can designers still artistically express themselves and not cross cultural lines?
