From aping runway trends to dipping into the archives of esteemed fashion houses, luxury fashion has been known to appropriate cultures and ideas for their own gain. The appropriation of Black fashion and streetwear is no different; luxury fashion has long been copying the unique and creative styles of Black creatives with little recognition or consideration for the origins of said style. In this article, we explore how luxury fashion has appropriated Black fashion and streetwear.
1. Uncovering the Complicated History of Luxury Appropriation
The history of luxury has been one filled with disparity and appropriation, maintained in a cycle over the centuries. As oppressors conquer the world with their power, so too have they taken it upon themselves through the centuries to appropriate the luxury items and aesthetics of those they have conquered.
The scope of such appropriation has been wide and varied, ranging from design motifs to fashion or art styles. This is an ongoing, woven history of a beguiling, but charged relationship between two cultures. With its influence on the world at large, luxury appropriation has spurred a system of cultural exchange, as distinct and unique elements become intertwined in a cross-continental web.
- Design Motifs: From monograms to floral prints, appropriated designs dominate many aspects of luxury.
- Fashion: Many distinct styles of clothing have been built upon conservations of appropriative practices.
- Art: The history and practices of art have changed time and time again, interwoven with cultual exchange.
2. Examining the Influence of Black Streetwear on Luxury Design
In the past two decades, black streetwear has been steadily gaining presence in the highly exclusive realm of luxury fashion. This shift towards a more urban aesthetic has been embraced by luxury labels such as Balmain, Maison Margiela and Givenchy, who have drawn inspiration from hoodies and sportswear and reworked them in high-end materials to create elevated streetwear looks.
At the same time, several young black designers—such as Pyer Moss’ Kerby Jean-Raymond and Off-White’s Virgil Abloh—have used their platform to expound on the power of black streetwear. They have crafted collections that dive into the roots of black street culture, celebrating the multifaceted influences of hip-hop, African-American culture and streetwear. Brands like these have gone beyond cultural infiltration, and have instead created collections that critically examine how streetwear has influenced luxury fashion.
- Balmain has drawn inspiration from hoodies and sportswear and reworked them in high-end materials
- Pyer Moss and Off-White‘s collections dive into the roots of black street culture
- These brands examine how streetwear has influenced luxury fashion
3. Exploring the Blurred Lines Between Appropriation and Appreciation
Appreciation and appropriation can be a very blurred line in today’s culture especially when it comes to music. On one hand, appreciation is honoring the origin of a culture, the unique and wonderful expressions that must be celebrated. On the other hand, appropriation is often seen as taking the aspects of a culture for one’s own benefit or gain without adequate acknowledgement for the original culture.
These lines may continue to be blurred, but knowing the difference between the two can be essential to understanding the implications on today’s culture. Appreciation encourages the growth and acceptance of a culture, while appropriation can often lead to a loss of the original culture’s identity. Knowing the difference and understanding what actions fall under each idea can be helpful in understanding political correctness and can potentially even lead to a better understanding of another culture.
- Appreciation – honors the origin of a culture and celebrates its expressions
- Appropriation – taking aspects of a culture for one’s own benefit or gain without adequate acknowledgement
4. A Glimpse Into the Future of High-End Influenced Streetwear
The world of high-end fashion and streetwear have been rapidly evolving over recent years. Streetwear, in particular, has taken over the fashion world and has become one of the biggest influences in the industry. We’ve seen the likes of Louis Vuitton and Gucci blending with streetwear to create unique and standout pieces. Here’s a glimpse of what the future of high-end influenced streetwear trends looks like.
- Unexpected Material: Streetwear fashion is pushing the boundaries of what is considered ‘normal’ fabric. We’ve seen a range of luxurious materials such as snakeskin and velvet used in streetwear looks. We’ll see some unexpected fabric choices in the upcoming influencer streetwear trends that will be making a statement.
- Customization: Streetwear looks are increasingly personalized and customized to create a unique piece. With more and more brands offering the ability to customize clothing with unique color combinations and logos, this trend doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
Streetwear trends are changing all the time, mainly driven by the style of influencers and celebrities. With the influence of high-end fashion, we will see streetwear take on radically new looks while maintaining the core basics. Fashionistas can look forward to some exciting and unique looks in their wardrobes this season.
Luxury fashion has managed to draw on the influences of Black culture over the last few decades, which while can be seen as a positive step, can sometimes be taken too far. It is encouraging to see luxury fashion houses seeking to give credit to black designers, from customizing collections with streetwear aesthetics to collaborations with producers and stylists. It is important to ensure people of color are given due recognition and credit for their authentic contributions to contemporary fashion.
