Wolf & Badger recognises that many designers have been utilising stylistic elements from other cultures for centuries, however, we feel it is important to draw a distinction between cultural appreciation and appropriation.
Cultural appropriation is defined as:
“The act by a member of a relatively dominant culture of taking a traditional cultural expression and repurposing it in a different context, without authorization, acknowledgement and/or compensation, in a way that causes harm to the traditional cultural expression holder(s).”
We encourage you to follow the 3 C’s rule (Consent, Credit, and Compensation) if your collection or products draw inspiration from another culture's traditional clothing, patterns, prints, and iconography.
Consent
- Have you asked the permission of the craftsperson, indigenous or traditional community to use their print/ pattern/ technique?
- Are the community credited as a source of inspiration anywhere on your products or in your marketing communications?
- Are you remunerating the craftsperson, indigenous or traditional community for using their print/ pattern/technique? Or are they involved in the design/ making of the pieces and paid a fair price for their work?
The use of religion images and symbols
Wolf & Badger recognises that religion and belief are extremely sensitive subjects.
Our policy on the use of religious images and symbols on brand products and marketing communications is informed by the UK’s Advertising Standard Authority.
We encourage all brands selling on the platform to carefully consider, if their use of religious imagery to advertise products in a way contrary to their central religious ethos has the potential to cause offence.