How Cameroonians reacted to Stella McCartney selling Ankara pieces for nearly 700,000 FCFA each
Cameroonians are having mixed feelings over top fashion brand, Stella McCartney and her prize tag on her Spring 2018 Ready-to-wear (African Print) Collection.
Despite been slammed for cultural appropriation last october, Stella McCartney‘s Spring 2018 show on Monday, March 19 in Paris has once again resurrected angry tweets from African fashion designers and African print consumers all over the world. Apparently, a piece of her latest collection go for $1175 (nearly 700,000 FCFA).
Now some Cameroonians believe its exploitative to sell a simple ‘Kaba‘ design for above half a million FCFA when the same design goes here for just 2500 – 5000 FCFA ($5 – $10).
OkayAfrica accused the designer of “fashion colonialism,” requesting that Western designers “please stop taking designs that Africans have been wearing for years, calling them your own, and charging people out the ass for them.” Writer Amarachi Nwosu asked on Twitter,
So are we going to talk about Stella McCartney using Ankara prints,
meanwhile there was only ONE African model on her runway?! pic.twitter.com/ljrvfNYMNK— Amarachi Nwosu (@AmaraWorldWide) October 2, 2017
I just can’t… #JesusTakeTheWheel #NotEvenABlackModel #PutSomeRespectOnOurCulture #LeaveItBe #StellaMcCartney #Africa #Culture #FoolishnessRightHere #CanWeJustNotDoThis #WhoGaveTheGoAheadOnThis #Ankara #Cloth #Tribal #YallWantEverything #WakandasCominForYou #Mockage pic.twitter.com/be54KEnAMw
— Char-Trannidoll-ene (@Trannidoll) March 23, 2018
Mind you the prints in question have long been associated with Africa in the minds of many, and it’s easy to see where accusations of cultural appropriation or improper representation might stem from. However, according to reports, ‘Ankara’ fabric originated with an Indonesian batik technique that was replicated and mass-produced by the Dutch and then brought to West Africa. Today, many refer to it as “Dutch wax prints” and much of this type of fabric that’s used and sold in Africa is still produced in the Netherlands.
See what Cameroonians are saying on social media.
@maretawest: “This is disrespectful to African culture..the God’s will hear this”.
@fraulien_real: “Stupid white people will purchase it for the prize tag.”
