A guide to cultural appropriation: Why Native headdresses are offensive and when to skip the trend

In today’s hyper-globalized world, the sharing, discovery and, hopefully, education of various traditions from around the globe is being made even easier. From food to music to holidays (who else dove into a margarita during Cinco de Mayo?) we’re all borrowing from each other.

But how far is too far? When does appreciation of a culture that’s not your own become not okay? Let’s start with a term you’ve probably heard a lot lately: cultural appropriation. According to Wikipedia, the term is defined as “the adoption of elements of one culture by a different cultural group, often by a dominant culture from a minority culture. These elements, once removed from their indigenous cultural contexts, can take on meanings that are significantly different.”

Trendsetting meanings, too. From the bindi to the headdress, cultural appropriation has become a big part of fashion, for better or worse. Here, we present a primer to some of fashion’s most potentially offensive cultural appropriation trends.

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