BLACK HISTORY MONTH/ APPROPRIATION

The Marc Jacobs S/S18 show is being called a lot of things. I was most shocked to hear the adjective "tropical", as the word that springs to my mind is appropriation. The colours, patterns, silhouettes and especially the turbans and flip flops seem to be 20th and 21st century African culture. 

If it were depicted in a honest, humble and down to earth way, it would be appreciation. Yet what we see here is a designer with a team who know nothing of the culture, and are selling it as a product, not as a sign of celebration and admiration.