Hence, seeing sarees being sold as “costumes” for “playing the fool” — as Carnival festivities are often described — was somewhat unsettling. Perhaps it’s because I am admittedly a “special occasion” saree draper myself: I wear them to weddings, cultural festivities or intercultural functions. My daily wear is what is often referred to as “Western” in the East — skirts, dresses, jeans and t-shirts. This brings us to the multi-layered issue of cultural appropriation defined by Oxford dictionary as the “unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. Stefani said she was inspired by the unique fashion of Tokyo’s Harajuku district when she toured Japan in the 90s.

Source: Hindustan Times May 31, 2022 14:16 UTC