hipsterappropriations:

feministblackboard:

CLAIRE’S TEACHING A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF APPROPRIATORS
(pass this on)

 

Every month or two Claire’s brings out a new “in now” line. In the past they have used things such as a blue and white theme, lace, etc. Now, they are using an “Indian theme” as their new front-of-the-store product line. A few of their products include a war bonnet headband, native American style bracelets, necklaces, bags and pouches.

Let’s let them know that this new product line is NOT acceptable and let’s tell them why.

CUSTOMER SERVICE
Phone: 1-800-Claires (1-800-252-4737)
Email: customerservice@claires.com is their Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/claires

Here is their faecbook page: http://www.facebook.com/claires

And here is what I sent them:
I was incredibly dismayed recently to see your new line of Claire’s products that feature a Native American theme.

It is one thing to appreciate a culture. It is a different matter entirely to fetishize, misunderstand, and reduce a rich, living heritage to tired caricatures for your personal consumption. They do not exist to please you. They certainly do not exist to increase your sales revenue. If you truly had an interest in them, you would not be paying lip service to stereotypes. You would not even be in a clothing and jewelry line dedicated to this.  

Every time a child walks into your store to see that line of products you teach them that it is ok to appropriate a culture that is not theirs. I urge you to please, drop this latest line of items, in favor of one that is not offensive.

Reblogging for obvious relevant content.  How do we put the pressure on retailers?  Write ‘em as you would write your legislators on a policy issue - and don’t shop there!

Reblogging because it is an awesome post: addendum to my prior.

I just don’t feel like I can let this go. I don’t feel like I should let this go.

Over the weekend, I took a little jaunt into Claire’s (I may be 26, but I like commercial cuteness from time to time). Okay, okay, every summer in the “bohemian collections,” I expect to see turquoise and silver jewelry, some little arrowheads and “Southwest” patterns, lots ‘n’ lots of leather and fringe, and all the feathers. It’s nothing new.

But Claire’s “Hipster Hippie” collection this year set my gut hurting. First I found this:

(The Thunderbird is an important entity/symbol. To wear it is to ask for a connection to it.)

Then I this:

(This is sold as a leather pouch/pendant necklace—it’s a medicine bag. Which is a very powerful kind of item, and personally sacred to the people who utilize them. And yes, there are people who still use them. Every day.)

I wish I had been swift enough to remember my camera phone, because after that? I found a plastic tiara like headband with a crown of feathers like a war bonnet (I may go back today and take a picture). A war bonnet princess crown for 12 year old Suburban white girls. I’m trying to find words for the fury and the pain. This kind of appropriation is angering and hurtful—and more so to many others than it is to me and mine. Not only are these things being mass manufactured by non-Natives and sold to profit the often white owned system, they are not even being used under any guise of being Native “inspired” (which in a way is fine, because that can be such an insult when used for gaudy, primitivist crafting that is shoddy and soulless). No, these pieces are for hippies, taken from the tribe of Hipster. What a proud nation they make in their indie coffee houses, with their “ironic” racism and “connecting with the Earth” stealing a heritage from the already silenced in their sweatshop made clothes.

For this to stop, people have to say something. It needs to be known this is not “fashion fun” and this is not okay. It needs to be known this is racist and appropriative and is worsening the lot of the people it affects. And those may not be so far away as Claire’s thinks, nor their allies. Here is the information for Claire’s offices: http://www.clairestores.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=68915&p=irol-contact

Here is their Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/claires

And their Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/clairesstores

If you are so moved, please speak up. Thank you.

endofunctor:

omniphile:

drakonlily:

Seems to me that if he just POSTS IT IN ENOUGH PLACES HE WILL WIN ONE OF THEM?  Go vote! You don’t have to log in!

jar0fstars:

And the good guys are still winning, but by a narrower margin against the haters.

GO GO GO!

(It’s the first one under “Where Do You Stand?” on the left.)

This is a site that’s mainly just frequented by his viewers. Go forth, tumblr, and get at it. ♥

poll-crashing is a pastime of mine okay

Poll-crashing is the BEST pastime.

EDIT: “percentages” seem to be based directly off of vote numbers, so if a state shows 100%, it could mean very well ONLY ONE PERSON VOTED thus far. 

Additionally and more importantly: states automatically show up on his side with no votes, and seem to be showing up to his side if “against nature” equals civil unions as well if it’s more than they deserve the right.

EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY: the tip that multiple browsers allows multiple votes is TRUE. More over, sometimes following the link through reposts on Tumblr allows multiple votes. :D

GO OWN THAT BRIDGE!!

P.S. GEE IN MY PASSION I DIDST FORGET: It’s now 2nd down under “Where Do You Stand?”