Chanel branded racist for selling a £1,130 boomerang
Cultural appropriation is nothing new in the fashion industry. High-end brands have been stealing from other cultures (without credit) for decades.
So it won’t come as much of a surprise to hear that Parisian label Chanel has done just that.
The brand, headed up by industry icon Karl Lagerfeld, is selling a boomerang. Yes, you read that right.
Part of Chanel’s SS17 pre-collection, the wood and resin style featuring the iconic double C logo will set you back a mere £1,130.
The product has rightfully angered some members of the public with people labelling Chanel as racist for appropriating an important item from Australia’s Aboriginal community.
Cultural appropriation hits a new low – I sincerely hope that @CHANEL is donating all the profits to underprivileged aboriginal communities pic.twitter.com/Bkf93XaYIi
— LJ (@BI0MECHANICAL) May 15, 2017
indigenous australians are humiliated for their culture and are forced to watch it be erased but chanel selling a boomerang for $2000 is ok?
— lucy #signal (@jeongsyeons) May 16, 2017
The brand has apologised, telling HuffPost Australia: “Chanel is extremely committed to respecting all cultures, and regrets that some may have felt offended.”
However, the product is still available for sale along with a pair of £2,860 rackets and tennis balls costing over £300.
Chanel has been under fire for the same thing before. In 2013, Native Americans spoke out against the use of feathered headpieces that appeared in the brand’s Metiers d’Arts show.
It’s not clear whether you can actually use the boomerang or whether it’s simply something to look at. We have reached out to Chanel for comment.
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