Gucci Accused Of Religious/Cultural Appropriation For $790 Sikhi Style Turbans
SMH. After all the blackface backlash, Gucci is getting groaned again — this time for selling $790 turbans that are similar in style to the dastaar (turban) worn by members of the Sikh faith.
According to Washington Post, the brand originally drew ire from the Sikh community when the luxury designer had a white model walking the runway in a bright blue turban last year:
It was styled nearly identically to the traditional headwear of Sikhs, who follow a faith with roots in South Asia, and outrage abounded. The Italian luxury brand was widely panned for not showing the look on “a brown model” and failing to grasp the turban’s significance.
“As a Sikh, I see this as a huge sign of disrespect and disregard toward Sikhism,” one person tweeted at the time.
Apparently that wasn’t enough to halt production because this week Gucci’s “Indy Full Turban” — described as a “gorgeously crafted turban” that is “ready to turn heads while keeping you in comfort as well as trademark style” — was being sold by Nordstrom for a reported price of $790.
As of Wednesday evening, the item was listed as sold out on Nordstrom’s website and the price no longer appeared. The department store and Gucci did not respond to requests for comment from the Washington Post.
Meanwhile there’s been a (well deserved, in our opinion) outcry from Sikhs and other critics over misappropriating an article of clothing that has religious significance and whose wearers have been attacked, discriminated against and even killed.
The turban is not just an accessory to monetize; it's a religious article of faith that millions of Sikhs view as sacred. Many find this cultural appropriation inappropriate, since those wearing the turban just for fashion will not appreciate its deep religious significance. pic.twitter.com/fldmxa3Wvr
— Sikh Coalition (@sikh_coalition) May 14, 2019
On Tuesday, the Sikh Coalition tweeted an image of the Nordstrom listing and criticized the treatment of the “sacred” headwear.
“The turban is not just an accessory to monetize,” the group wrote, adding in a separate tweet that it had contacted Nordstrom and Gucci. It wrote: “Many find this cultural appropriation inappropriate, since those wearing the turban just for fashion will not appreciate its deep religious significance.”
There’s much more to unpack with this particular item of clothing. Hit the flip for more tweets that explain why this was such a huge offense.
Dear NON-SIKHS …. don’t waste $750 buying a fake n fancy @gucci turban from @Nordstrom !! You can inbox me your location and I can arrange FREE lessons in Turban tying in most places and provide cloth material..FREE ! Any colour ..@cnni @AJEnglish @jonsnowC4 pic.twitter.com/olrE5z1JYR
— ravinder singh (@RaviSinghKA) May 14, 2019
A Sikh Turban is not just a piece of cloth. It carries immense values, respect, a courageous history, lots and lots of expectations. Dear @gucci, never try to rate Our Pride …Our Turban. It is Priceless. Thanks @RaviSinghKA for initiating this free service. Stay blessed Sir.
— BALWINDER SINGH (@balsin90) May 15, 2019
Hey @Nordstrom and @gucci: this is inappropriate! The turban is a Sikh article of faith, not a cute fashion accessory. Considering the amount of discrimination turban-wearing Sikhs regularly undergo, please reconsider selling this product. pic.twitter.com/4pLi24gkGm
— Harmanpreet (@sassy_preet) May 14, 2019
@Nordstrom please take this down. Turbans are supposed to promote equality among the people. Selling a turban, let alone a "Gucci" one, that is $750 is not right. It promotes the opposite of equality. There's so much more I could say, but in short, please take this down. https://t.co/j0zd6cI3hn
— Harman ➰ (@_harman_kaur_) May 15, 2019
@gucci @Nordstrom Dastar/“Sikh turban” comes w/ great responsibility. Sikhs were boiled alive & cut limb by limb for tying it. Post 9/11- bullied & murdered. Sikhi is accessible not luxurious. $5 for the cloth we die(d) for. #culturalappropriation at the expense of #Sikhgenocide pic.twitter.com/NbPXvWlEEt
— Jasjit Singh (@JasjitSDhanoa) May 14, 2019
@gucci, who made the decision to capitalize on something so significant to Sikhs? And your team went as far as telling people how to accessorize for a "night on the town". You don't use a turban to add "pop of blue" in your outfit.
— Aasees Kaur (@SouthernSikh) May 14, 2019
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
This is cultural appropriation to its finest!!! Sikhs get racist stares, remarks, assaulted, & even murdered because of our turbans but now that @gucci decides to show it on some runway & sell it, now its okay!! Fuck that, stick to your ball caps, leave my turban alone pic.twitter.com/b4EkLEq6KT
— Sanjeevan Singh Sidhu (@realsidhusaab) May 16, 2019
I’ve never paid more then $40 and @gucci can’t even, and will never, come close to matching my crown 💪🏽 #priceless #turban pic.twitter.com/OARtZpgN1Q
— Barinder S. Bhullar (@B_Bhullar) May 13, 2019
Gucci, sweetie, what are you doing? You think you did something? A turban… for $790? Are you serious? On top of that, a white model wore it on the runway. Even a luxury brand is uneducated. Appropriating culture is not cool. You done fucked up again, honey.
— Jobless™ (@zntckl) May 17, 2019
One of the reasons Sikhs wear turbans is to promote equality. It is insulting to first simplify our religion into a fashion accessory and secondly sell it for hundreds of dollars. The wrap of the turban is done in Sikhi style, this is not cultural but #ReligiousAppropriation.
— Kash Singh (@kash_education) May 15, 2019
They really out here calling it “Indy” with zero shame pic.twitter.com/ob3AepLI8Z
— Fluer di Rose (@taranaTrex) May 16, 2019
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