Victoria's Secret uses Native headdress on catwalk
Hugh Freaking Dillon
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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Victoria's Secret has apologized for putting a Native American-style headdress on a model for its annual fashion show, after the outfit was criticized as a display of ignorance toward tribal culture and history.
The company responded to the complaints over the weekend by saying it was sorry to have upset anyone and that it wouldn't include the outfit in the show's television broadcast next month, or in any marketing materials.
"We sincerely apologize as we absolutely had no intention to offend anyone," the company said.
Headdresses historically are a symbol of respect, worn by Native American war chiefs and warriors. For Plains tribes, for example, each feather placed on a headdress has significance and had to be earned through an act of compassion or bravery. Some modern-day Native American leaders have been gifted war bonnets in ceremonies accompanied by prayers and songs.
"When you see a Lakota chief wearing a full headdress, you know that he was a very honourable man. He was a leader. He did a lot of honourable things for his people," said Michelle Spotted Elk, a Santa Cruz, Calif., woman of mixed heritage whose husband is Lakota. "It also has religious significance. With them, there's not a division between spirituality and their leadership."
Victoria's Secret model Karlie Kloss walked onto the runway last week wearing the floor-length feathered headdress, leopard-print underwear and high heels. She also was adorned with fringe and turquoise jewelry during a segment meant to represent the 12 months of the year — fireworks in July, rain gear for April and a headdress for November.
Kloss herself posted on Twitter that she was "deeply sorry if what I wore during the VS Show offended anyone."
Thousands of people have commented about the outfit on the company's Facebook page. Some praised Kloss' attire as artistic and urged those offended by it to "get over it." Some expressed appreciation to Victoria's Secret for halting its marketing of the clothing, and others reached back in history to explain their feelings.
"We have gone through the atrocities to survive and ensure our way of life continues," Navajo Nation spokesman Erny Zah said in an interview Monday. "Any mockery, whether it's Halloween, Victoria's Secret — they are spitting on us. They are spitting on our culture, and it's upsetting."
The Victoria's Secret stir follows a string of similar incidents. Earlier this year, Paul Frank Industries Inc. and the band No Doubt ran into criticism for their use of headdresses in clothing and parties, and in a cowboys-and-Indians-themed video, respectively. They offered apologies as well.
Last year, Urban Outfitters set off a firestorm of criticism with its line of Navajo-branded clothing and accessories — particularly underwear and a liquor flask, which the tribe said was "derogatory and scandalous."
Abaki Beck was among a handful of Native students who hosted a discussion last week at a private liberal arts college in St. Paul, Minn., on Native culture in fashion and sports. She said companies first must learn from the mistake of ignoring Native American history and then make an effort to engage with Indian Country.
She wanted more than a short apology from Victoria's Secret instead of what she said sounded like an automated response.
"But perhaps that is an unrealistic hope," said the 19-year-old member of the Blackfeet Nation of Montana. "It is all about business, after all."
Jennie Luna, who is Chicana and Caxcan, said society largely is ignorant toward indigenous spirituality and doesn't understand what should not be marketed commercially. She and others say more education about Native American cultures is needed.
"We are people; we're not a fashion statement," Luna said. "We are people who are facing serious issues, and for them to further perpetuate the type of stereotypes and disregard for a community's way of life is unacceptable."
ReGina Zuni's advice to companies looking to market Native American culture is to hire Native Americans who have knowledge of tribal traditions, cultures and customs.
However, her reaction to hearing about the Victoria's Secret headdress wasn't outrage about the clothing itself, but about the lack of attention on health care, education, housing and other issues in Indian Country.
"To each his own," said Zuni, of Isleta Pueblo in New Mexico. "But seriously, if people want to grab media attention on Indian issues, this is not the issue to advance and place in the spotlight."
Gimli 1993
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6tnj7IEI0E&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ton2Lp-s ... r_embedded
It could have been for better or worse....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQObWW06VAM
I like that one, because it always reminds me of this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN_hSOaeFwo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQUwceSTOiA
I'm sitting here wracking my brain trying to think what song off of VS mentions burkhas......
duh :wtf:
Good god I love that album.
Empowerment in music.
This one?
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
I'm actually kind of torn about this. On one hand, I thought "jesus, do we have to be uber PC about EVERYTHING nowadays?". But then I thought "well, the head dress has a real significance spiritually in their culture, so I suppose it could be insulting to them to see it used as a fashion statement, especially on a runway with a model mostly nude".
then I thought "well, the vatican doesn't get all up in arms about people dressing up as priests and nuns for halloween", however, if a runway model was half naked wearing the pope's giant hat, there might be a slight problem.
I can see the issue here. Western culture basically de-legitimizes the significance of native culture into something campy from the 70's, where the head dress, as the article explains, is actually something sacred that only the few get to wear.
imagine if she was wearing a purple heart instead. can you imagine the uproar from patriotic purists around the US?
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
how would you feel if she wore yamaka
I see what you're saying, and agree. Part of me is like "it's not THAT big of a deal", but on the other hand I'm not Native American and really don't know how stuff like this makes them feel. They have been very marginalized over the years and turned into a caricature, that has to get under their skin.
I think the main thing is, this was probably a stupid publicity stunt. They had to know this was going to happen, Native Americans are famously vocal about things like this. Controversy is the best publicity. It is kind douchey.
Surely there's a middle ground between PC-ness (which I'm not really a fan of) and respect for other cultures.
HFD, good comments and food for thought there - thank you.
Sums it up well.
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
and, as the article states, this comes just a WEEK after the No Doubt video controversy where they had a cowboys and indians theme, and the band pulled the video and apologized. is it possible VS actually did this to capitalize on the publicity?
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
:thumbup:
we bump into the same kind of threads...
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Why not (V) (°,,,,°) (V) ?
i like it. LTD has been kind to me. :P