Some outrageous fashion lines history! Swimwear label Bfyne accused Brazilian fashion designer Silvia Ulson of plagiarism after seeing Ulson’s collection at Miami Swim Week this summer. A rep for Bfyne told HuffPost about the similarities between its “Sahara” collection, which took inspiration from the brand’s Nigerian culture, and Ulson’s collection, which was apparently inspired by indigenous Brazilian cultures. On top of that, Ulson’s show featured mostly white models wearing the African-inspired swimsuits paired with Native American-inspired feathered headdresses. The whole scenario was just another reminder that plagiarism and appropriation still exist in fashion, and, no, they are not OK.
Alexander McQueen’s Fall/Winter 1995 Collection, “Highland Rape”, McQueen was one of the greatest provocateurs in the fashion industry, so it’s no surprise that another one of his shows makes this list. For his Fall/Winter 1995 show, Highland Rape, McQueen sent out models bruised and battered wearing tattered clothes of tartan and lace. With some thinking that McQueen was promoting violence against women, the backlash was swift. But, in McQueen’s eyes, the show was meant to represent the ethnic cleansing of the Scottish Highlands by British soldiers during the 18th and 19th centuries and the ensuing controversy upset the designer, especially since he cared so much about designing clothes that empowered women.
Tory Burch’s All-White “Juju On That Beat” Ad, Tory Burch was accused of cultural appropriation after featuring three white models dancing to “Juju On That Beat” in her ad campaign. One social media user captured the overwhelming sentiment quite succinctly: “Tory Burch definitely should’ve had women of color in that ad and that’s all I’m going to say about the situation.”
Noted for his peen-peeping garb (see above) Rick Owns has never been shy of pushing the boundaries when it comes to clothes. This was apparent at his show, entitled “Cyclops”, which featured models carrying other (human) models as accessories and backpacks. Besides looking seriously weird, many thought that the stunt dehumanized the models, in a grotesque and monstrous-seeming gesture in keeping with the show’s title. But in fact, it also commented on the fashion industry’s enslavement of people around the world in the pursuit of cheaper and more plentiful garments. The disparity between the makers and the wearers of the clothes was brought into direct visual focus in this bold move by the designer, whose advice to young designers hints at the controversy surrounding his collections: “Learn to not take anyone too seriously and learn to listen to your gut. There are so many ways to learn – not just academically.
Another distressing clothing line is Headhunters Line, a very bold fashion line that already generated a lot of controversy. Sex, guns, revolting message, this fashion clothing line has them all. Read more details at Headhunters Clothing.