Gucci Called Out For Cultural Appropriation For $1,200 “Indy Turban”

Gucci has come under fire for cultural appropriation for the second time this year for selling a “full indy turban” for US$800 ($AU1,200).

The turban is identical to the religious headpiece worn by Sikhs and garnered backlash when it appeared on the runway last year.

Gucci, however, clearly chose to ignore its cultural appropriation blunder and has continued to make and distribute the turban.

The “Indy Full Turban” was seen on US retailer Nordstrom‘s website, yet has now been marked as “sold out”.

Nordstrom issues a statement saying they have withdrawn the item from sale. Gucci has not commented on the backlash.

This isn’t the first time Gucci has been called out for cultural appropriation. Earlier this year, the luxury fashion brand faced severed backlash over its ‘blackface’ jumper.

The brand removed the item from sale after social media pointed out the mistake, pointing out the jumper when pulled up made it look like the wearer was dressed in blackface.

At the time, Gucci said the blackface incident would be used as a “learning experience”, vowing to increase diversity throughout the company.

Clearly, they did not learn from the mistake.

The backlash from social media has been fierce. In the Sikh faith, the turban is a religious garment, and as many people on social media have pointed out, is not an accessory.

Seriously @Nordstrom @gucci ? The turban is one of the most important and symbolic articles of faith for Sikhs, and you’re selling it as a fashion accessory to make money? This isn’t the first time you’ve come under fire for cultural appropriation. Do better. pic.twitter.com/3KHtHSKEqm
— Taran Parmar (@Tarankparmar) May 14, 2019

Dear @gucci, the Sikh Turban is not a hot new accessory for white models but an article of faith for practising Sikhs. Your models have used Turbans as ‘hats’ whereas practising Sikhs tie them neatly fold-by-fold. Using fake Sikhs/Turbans is worse than selling fake Gucci products pic.twitter.com/sOaKgNmgwR
— Harjinder Singh Kukreja (@SinghLions) May 16, 2019

.@gucci @Nordstrom The Sikh turban is not just a fashion accessory, but it’s also a sacred religious article of faith. We hope more can be done to recognize this critical context. #appropriation https://t.co/p1z3CYq0NT
— Sikh Coalition (@sikh_coalition) May 15, 2019

This is beyond aggravating. Did someone at @gucci even bother to figure out what a dastaar (turban) means to Sikhs? Did it cross your minds to consider the history behind our identity? My people are discriminated against, even killed, for wearing a turban. pic.twitter.com/G62edSmjhf
— Aasees Kaur (@SouthernSikh) May 14, 2019

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