https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:08:36 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2019590 Sun, 14 Apr 2019 09:04:35 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2019590@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Isabel, my guess is that it’s lack of knowledge that makes that possible. Instead of realizing they are stealing a specific thing from people who are very much alive, I think customers think “ethnic” is a general feeling, and that any group of people who did identify with a certain design have moved on from there, like Bretagne stripes, which I don’t think offend people there. Of course, there is also a huge dose of cultural racism and condescension towards no -European cultures in the assumption that there is no individual artist involved and that communal property somehow means the whole world. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2019560 Sun, 14 Apr 2019 00:15:39 +0000 Anonymous 2019560@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I remember non native women wearing Native American jewelry which now seems ludicrous so we're headed in the right direction, if not quite fast enough.</p> <p>I'm genuinely surprised that people still feel comfortable trotting out an item of ethnic clothing that doesn't reflect their own culture, and the wealthier the wearer the more reminiscent of Marie Antoinette playing at shepherdess."Offensive" is the absolute last reaction I want to evoke with my clothes.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2019557 Sat, 13 Apr 2019 23:38:52 +0000 Kari 2019557@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie, just so I don’t leave this thread on a totally downer note, here’s a potential answer to that question and definitely a ray of hope: when the actual artists are the ones who are featured. </p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/1070798362958899/posts/2253971744641549?sfns=mo" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/10707.....49?sfns=mo</a></p> <p>Via Unravel Podcast/CBC: “Gwich'in designer's earrings land in Vogue magazine: Tania Larsson works with traditional materials like muskox horn and caribou tufting.” </p> <p>So, some positive steps too. Just sucks that the blatant theft of art is STILL happening. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2019441 Sat, 13 Apr 2019 11:51:16 +0000 Angie 2019441@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>:(</p> <p>This has been going on for a very long time. I used to live in South Africa, where African artisan work is aplenty and sold for a pittance. It’s very recognizable. As soon as I came to the US, I saw the SAME designs and items in home decor being sold for a fortune. Lots of middlemen getting rich, and the same African artists getting a pittance. It makes me angry. And is unfortunately a way of the world at the moment. Want to see it change. HOW??? Is the big question. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2019286 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 02:08:34 +0000 Jaime 2019286@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ugh. To all of the above.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2019279 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 00:31:50 +0000 DonnaF 2019279@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you, Kari and FashIntern for your posts. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2019158 Thu, 11 Apr 2019 10:20:02 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2019158@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for posting this, Kari. So far it’s gotten 2k views on my Facebook page, and there’s this update from a Laotian newspaper <a href="https://laotiantimes.com/2019/04/10/max-mara-vs-laos-oma-plagiarism/?fbclid=IwAR1Cxa1pnvQYbBMGivLPBJLWUdIr6Ydoxbk__CFNvNwDfIOxqVl4NBYYSS8" rel="nofollow">https://laotiantimes.com/2019/.....Vl4NBYYSS8</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2019137 Thu, 11 Apr 2019 04:41:40 +0000 Anonymous 2019137@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So sad and disappointing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2019131 Thu, 11 Apr 2019 04:19:33 +0000 Dianna 2019131@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This reminds me of Isabel Marant's SS 2015 collection that included embroidered pieces copied from the work&nbsp;of artisans from&nbsp;a Oaxacan community. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2018805 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 16:14:04 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2018805@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Bijou, I don't know about YSL in particular, but many historic "borrowing" of other cultures was presented as higher forms of culture elevating them, when they were really simple theft </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2018759 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 13:23:06 +0000 Bijou 2018759@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is an interesting issue as high end designers have been borrowing design from other cultures for many years - YSL and his love of Marrakesh immediately springs to mind. However, YSL enriched and celebrated the culture which is what is lacking with Max Mara here. I enjoyed reading this article about how Yves saved a public garden which Pierre Berge gave back to the city along with a YSL museum, basically a creative gift back to those who inspired him and his art:<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/africa/ysl-marrakech-museum-opening-hours-new-attraction-yves-saint-laurent-morocco-a8260006.html">https://www.independent.co.uk/.....ion-yves-s</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2018747 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 12:56:50 +0000 Style Fan 2018747@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Appalling.&nbsp; And unfortunately not surprising.&nbsp; The more I see of these sort of stories the less "designer" clothing I want.&nbsp; Not that I was in their market. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2018733 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 11:24:07 +0000 UmmLila (Lisa) 2018733@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Not surprising at all. There's an Israeli designer, Dodo Bar Or, whose entire line is based on traditional Palestinian fabrics and embroidery, no credit given. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2018732 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 11:22:12 +0000 Anonymous 2018732@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Echoing Janet There's been so many stories of companies ripping off Etsy designers too-that was the first thing that came to mind. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2018729 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 10:44:10 +0000 Janet 2018729@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sad but not surprising. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2018728 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 10:30:42 +0000 Jessikams 2018728@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rachylou it IS shocking isn’t it??? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2018725 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 09:52:02 +0000 rachylou 2018725@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You know, you come to a point where you realise that some people see other people as things and it’s mind-boggling. But it’s more than that: they don’t even recognise theft when they do it, that it’s not their idea. And you know further, that they’re probably trampling on people close by too. On their own. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2018723 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 08:04:38 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2018723@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Again and again. MM doesn't need to make a donation or get the positive publicity that would come with one, but should be required to pay fair market value for the intellectual property they have stolen, and perhaps a fine beyond that. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2018721 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 07:48:32 +0000 Sal 2018721@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That is very wrong.&nbsp; Thanks for pointing it out.</p> <p>I am not a Max Mara customer so I hope their customers point it out in a clear way ....... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2018720 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 07:24:36 +0000 Lucy 2018720@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's really sad to see people exploited in this way. Max Mara should be making a sizeable donation to the group, right now, to fix the problem.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2018719 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 06:39:39 +0000 Jessikams 2018719@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Grrrrrrrrrr. I have been fortunate to visit Laos for work, and bought so many textiles because the stuff was just gorgeous. Credit where it is due!!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/maxmara-blatant-cultural-appropriationplagiarism#post-2018692 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 02:57:29 +0000 Kari 2018692@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another disappointing brand outright copying work of minority artisans. </p> <p>From Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (Laos):</p> <p>“Well, we gave Max Mara a chance to respond and…nothing.<br /> Nothing about how they duplicated traditional handmade designs of the tiny Oma ethnic minority group of rural Laos, and factory printed them on garments that are being sold for several hundred dollars in high-end boutiques. Nothing about why they have not acknowledged the source of these motifs. Nothing about how they sourced these patterns, and if they compensated the artisans for their creative property.<br /> Let’s be clear, these designs are not “inspired by” or “an interpretation of” Oma motifs; they are copied. The colour, composition, and motifs are exact replicas, so besides being lazy and unoriginal design work, it’s also direct plagiarism.<br /> The power imbalance here couldn’t be more stark - an international fashion brand profiting off the traditional designs of ethnic minority artisans in rural Southeast Asia. Acknowledging and compensating artisans for their work and creativity, no matter who they are and where they come from, is important.”<br /> #MaxOma </p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/140582172666162/posts/2251886431535715?sfns=mo" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/14058.....15?sfns=mo</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/140582172666162/posts/2244133835644308?sfns=mo" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/14058.....08?sfns=mo</a> </p>