An Open Letter to Urban Outfitters on Columbus Day

Same thing being sold here in Canada at Simons: http://www.simons.ca/eng/product/navajo_jacquard_tie/7765-745820 and http://www.simons.ca/eng/product/navajo_jacquard_zip_around_wallet_/9126-611301 for example.

This is fantastic, and a version of this letter should bombard every clothing store that sells these travesties.

Wonderful letter.

Fantastic letter. Read, think and pass it on! 

I’d add my name to this

Right the f*** on sister!!!

Does Urban Outfitters own Forever 21?

woo go Sasha! beautiful!

I’ve also seen specific examples where they’ve done cheap knockoffs of artists’ handiwork without attribution or compensation. Or apologies, when they’re called on it. (Non-apology apologies, i.e. “I’m sorry you feel that way”, don’t count.) So not only are they culturally insensitive, they’re thieves. Lovely bunch of jerks.

I’ve also seen specific examples where they’ve done cheap knockoffs of artists’ handiwork without attribution or compensation. Or apologies, when they’re called on it. (Non-apology apologies, i.e. “I’m sorry you feel that way”, don’t count.) So not only are they culturally insensitive, they’re thieves. Lovely bunch of jerks.

I understand your outrage, but have you ever been to an Urban Outfitters store before?  Maybe this is the first time you’ve overtly been offended but part of their popularity has been their willingness to sell things that are risque at a high price.   Thoughtful piece but I wouldn’t have expected anything less from such a worthless brand.

I understand your outrage, but have you ever been to an Urban Outfitters store before?  Maybe this is the first time you’ve overtly been offended but part of their popularity has been their willingness to sell things that are risque at a high price.   Thoughtful piece but I wouldn’t have expected anything less from such a worthless brand.

Bravo! 

Bravo! 

i’m a blackman born and raised in this country and i understand what you are feeling . time after time in this country your ancestry is mocked and made fun of and to add insult to injury robbed of your culture to make financial gain or profit . the plight of the native american is a black stain on the history of america by all of it’s inhabitants indifference to it’s recognition . may i as an individual take the time to apologize for the insensitivity that this country exhibits when dealing with matters of representing the native americans legacy. even though an apology from a lone citizen who may be just as guilty as the main perpetrators is and will not be enough to explain the horrible ignorance of most in this country, i feel that i must do so . as a kid when i was growing up in the school system and i was presented with a historybook denoting the arrival of christopher colubus as the discoverer of the new world i could not help but notice that the blatant racist inuendo that the indigenous peoples of this continent were totally ignored (how can you discover a land when there are natives already there) i hope you can find some kind , any kind of peace and solace in your protest of this ugly hijacking of your people’s heritage and may you forever prosper from the spirit of being a genuine entity from the supreme creator as it was meant to be again, i apologize and hope that you will except it from a humble observer of injustice . may peace be unto you , sincere,y sheldon hudson .                       my maternal grandmother has native american lineage of which i don’t know much about but i’m trying to find out more about through research . 

i’m a blackman born and raised in this country and i understand what you are feeling . time after time in this country your ancestry is mocked and made fun of and to add insult to injury robbed of your culture to make financial gain or profit . the plight of the native american is a black stain on the history of america by all of it’s inhabitants indifference to it’s recognition . may i as an individual take the time to apologize for the insensitivity that this country exhibits when dealing with matters of representing the native americans legacy. even though an apology from a lone citizen who may be just as guilty as the main perpetrators is and will not be enough to explain the horrible ignorance of most in this country, i feel that i must do so . as a kid when i was growing up in the school system and i was presented with a historybook denoting the arrival of christopher colubus as the discoverer of the new world i could not help but notice that the blatant racist inuendo that the indigenous peoples of this continent were totally ignored (how can you discover a land when there are natives already there) i hope you can find some kind , any kind of peace and solace in your protest of this ugly hijacking of your people’s heritage and may you forever prosper from the spirit of being a genuine entity from the supreme creator as it was meant to be again, i apologize and hope that you will except it from a humble observer of injustice . may peace be unto you , sincere,y sheldon hudson .                       my maternal grandmother has native american lineage of which i don’t know much about but i’m trying to find out more about through research . 

It’s an ad box based on navigation and topic – if you click on an article about urban outfitters, it pops up that ad. I looked at something on Piperlime, and it sent that item to follow me around the internet. You will see different things depending on if you clicked the links to the article or not.

…I agree with your letter, “white PEOPLE” make && with our logo’s, name and native designs and we don’t get the credit that is due to all NATIVE!…

while there are aspects of this letter I can support, it leaves me generally confused as to what is “acceptable” in terms of fashion (which is certainly a nebulous term in and of itself)….

is it the selling of specific patterns/items/colors? or is it the use of those patterns/items/colors in conjunction with a specific name (e.g. ‘Navajo beaded blah blah blah’)? is it both?

if someone goes out to purchase a dreamcatcher, do they *have* to purchase an authentic, hand-made dreamcatcher, else they’re disrespecting the history and sovereignty of the tribal nations?

I’m genuinely trying to gain a deeper understanding of this issue, so please don’t attack me.

while there are aspects of this letter I can support, it leaves me generally confused as to what is “acceptable” in terms of fashion (which is certainly a nebulous term in and of itself)….

is it the selling of specific patterns/items/colors? or is it the use of those patterns/items/colors in conjunction with a specific name (e.g. ‘Navajo beaded blah blah blah’)? is it both?

if someone goes out to purchase a dreamcatcher, do they *have* to purchase an authentic, hand-made dreamcatcher, else they’re disrespecting the history and sovereignty of the tribal nations?

I’m genuinely trying to gain a deeper understanding of this issue, so please don’t attack me.

while there are aspects of this letter I can support, it leaves me generally confused as to what is “acceptable” in terms of fashion (which is certainly a nebulous term in and of itself)….

is it the selling of specific patterns/items/colors? or is it the use of those patterns/items/colors in conjunction with a specific name (e.g. ‘Navajo beaded blah blah blah’)? is it both?

if someone goes out to purchase a dreamcatcher, do they *have* to purchase an authentic, hand-made dreamcatcher, else they’re disrespecting the history and sovereignty of the tribal nations?

I’m genuinely trying to gain a deeper understanding of this issue, so please don’t attack me.

Good on you for sending the letter. While I am not surprised to see something ethically dubious coming from UO, I am continually shocked at the blatant poor taste of the current ‘Native American’ fashion trend.

Also, your first paragraph made me giggle. Good job, Sasha.

Way to write a letter!

Is there a petition I can sign?

yes, she did.

Thank you, Sasha Houston Brown. It saddens me to think, however, that the only part of your marvelous letter that will prompt a response is the mention of the legal aspects of infringing upon Navajo and Native American rights per the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. It would be nice to have Urban Outfitters cease and desist for altruistic reasons, just because it is the right thing to do. But I somehow doubt that, if this ever is a topic of discussion in an Urban Outfitters conference room, this angle will even be considered.

It says they should stop selling products under the Navajo name, as the goods are not authentic Navajo. So the prints, patterns, designs and names of the products are not what the description states.  

Not all dream catcher’s are Navajo, so if they sold them as “Urban Outfitter Dream Catcher’s” it would just be a product the shop made and sold. It is the fact that they are falsely using the Navajo name for products that aren’t. 

So it is, really, the attachment of this ethnic group to products and designs that should embody who they are as a group but instead misinform and abuse the name for the simple goal to sell goods because it is currently ‘fashionable’. 
I personally love the Navajo prints and goods, but it is true. These products should not be sold under false pretenses.  

Hope that helps (:

Before reading this letter, I assumed that it was written by another anti-mainstream radicalist who’s sole purpose in life is to go against everything marketed by corporate america. But after reading Sasha’s letter, it’s apparent that she’s very well read and supports her platform very professionally and adamantly. The pride she has for her Navajo heritage shines through, even under these negative circumstances. I’m impartial towards the clothes marketed by Urban Outfitters (even though the prices are ridiculous), but I do think that Sasha’s concern is a legitimate one.

I just wanted to say thank you for not only writing this but having the courage to send it. As a woman seeing those panties made me cringe and as a Native American it made me angry.I think of what my grandmother being continually mistreated and bullied as a child and even as an adult because of her heritage. I think of her mother growing up on a reservation and being told not to go into town because our people were not welcome there. Urban Outfitters has waded so far from their so called mission statement. Frankly,what I find most offensive is how completely unaware they seem to be of their affect on the public. These products are offensive and just downright tacky.

As a Pacific Islander, I say, you go girl!!

Are you aware of how Cinco de Mayo is celebrated here in the United States?  A letter would never suffice.  

I admire your stance, keep it up!

Not to rain on your parade, but I personally know one of the designers who created the patterns you seen on Urban Outfitters Navajo clothing.  She is actually Native American. Sure she isn’t Navajo exactly, but she is Indigenous American.

I can see how she would be  angry. At the very least they should re-name their line to something that does not encourage someone to assosciate the product with the navajo people.Personally I would be more satisfied if they completely stopped selling it. The fact that the company said they had no plans to do any of this is just offensive and insulting in and off itself. At this point maybe they could be persuaded under the fact that it is false advertisement being that there is nothing navajo of the product as they would like people to believe.

As a Navajo woman I have had the same experience seeing products at Pacsun listed as Navajo. Such as Navajo scarf and Navajo printed short-shorts, etc… I believe this is a disgrace to my culture, and people who buy these items should be aware that they are buying products that cheapen and vulgarize my tribes name and that of others. I thank Sasha Brown’s valiant efforts to attempt to stop this mockery of our culture.

Wopida Tanka, Sasha.  translation in Dakota–Great thanks, Sasha

Agreed. Also, I believe many Sambos were absorbed by the popular franchise Denny’s. Just sayin’. And there is still one Sambos in CA.

Sasha,  Thank you for your posting and letter to Urban Outfitters.  I’m an Ojibwe from the Isabella Reservation but find myself in Navajo and Ute country working for a university in Utah.  I recently did a presentation entitled “Not for your Consumption” and displayed the Land O’ Lakes butter icon on the flyers.  For the presentation we discussed the various images and misappropriations of native art and culture.  Specifically, how the misappropriations dehumanizes an entire race.  This dehumanization I believe leads to the justification of the ongoing abuse towards native women.  Native women are 2 1/2 times more likely to be physically and sexually abused than any other race (per 2007 Amnesty International Report: Maze of Injustice).   
Have you thought of creating an online protest through Change.org?

Thank you for expressing your perspective and feelings so eloquently.  These products are outrageously insensitive. Consumers need to be informed of offensive and irreverent products to make respectful choices.  Please be assured I will not be buying such products.  Here in Alaska I buy the handcrafted products of native artists and decline the mass produced trinkets.  It is a problem that effects indigenous peoples all over the world and consumers needs to be aware of the offensiveness and sacrilege of such products. 

Navajo Hipster Panty???? What jackass came up with that concept & label for an underpant. Then again UO has always been overpriced product made cheaply so tacky doesn’t surprise me.
Go Sasha!

I’m calling this number.  It’s legit, I checked.  If they get enough complaints, they WILL take notice.  All it takes is a bunch of us to make a simple phone call.

(When you reach the automated message, go to the company directory and look up “Senk” for his extension)

Thank you for articulating that so well. I had a similar reaction when seeing one of my favorite stores (Delias) create a line clothing under the theme “So Navajo!”. It makes me sad that entire cultures can be reduced to cheaply made, passing trends. I might have to forward them a link to this. ..! 

I think it’s both the use of the name and the fact that they’re trying to approximate what, to their minds, looks “Navajo.” They should not only stop using the name, but also review their decision to wholesale rip off patterns or aesthetics from any one culture, especially one that doesn’t have the political or economic power to enforce their ownership of those things (i.e. snap their fingers and summon a demonic hoard of indestructible high-powered super-prosecutors who cause the fabric of the legal system to ripple around them as they walk, to swoop down on their corporate headquarters with startling fury until they have to pay royalties to even say the word “Navajo” in conversations. If only indigenous cultures got the same protection as corporations!) In any case, this only shows how unoriginal and uninspired Urban Outfitters has become. Can’t think of your own designs? Grab someone else’s!

Tabut ni – Thank you from a Mohegan woman who thinks that Urban has taken it a bit too far.

“Native Hipster Panties”…. WTF.

It’s debatable whether slapping a generic Native American motif on schlock is offensive, but I think it’s beside the point. What is most offensive is not the appropriation of Native American patterns per se (which happens in fashion all the time and is not in any way illegal), but the appropriation in conjunction with the word ‘Navajo’ which effectively dilutes the association between the Navajo people with the goods they produce. The bottom line is that the Navajo Nation owns trademarks on the word ‘Navajo’; as the trademark owner, Urban Outfitters is infringing upon the Navajo Nation’s exclusive rights to market and license their “brand.” By failing to respect the trademark, Urban Outfitters is essentially stealing from the Navajo Nation. Because of this country’s fraught history with Native Americans vis-a-vis property rights, Urban Outfitter’s capitalizing on the Navajo name without compensation to its lawful proprieters is particulary egregious.

And that’s a show of my own Christian privilege that my brain didn’t go there first. That said, Buddha statues are something I would NEVER own, because 1) some of my friends are Buddhist, and they take their religion seriously and I respect it and them, and 2) you do not appropriate other people’s cultural and religious objects because you think they’re “cute” or “funny.” Take that offensive shite elsewhere.

As someone who works in the fashion industry, I am shocked that something like this actually made it through to production and distribution without notice. There are many rules and regulations that must be followed in this industry – for instance, if a garment has a horn button, it must be verified with the US Fish & Wildlife Service that the horn was not from an endangered animal; there are copyright infringements that must be adhered to; etc. Someone really dropped the ball on that one. These goods should have been immediately recalled.

On a side note, while I am not Native American, I do have a deep appreciation for the beauty and variety of all Native crafts. I own a few Native American pieces, including two dream catchers, however all were purchased directly from Native craftspeople at a Native American cultural festival held in my town each year. I would never dream of cheapening the beauty and symbolism of these works of art by buying cheap “Made in China” knockoffs.

I’m of European descent. Work on a reservation – for the past 23 years.  Thank you for your articulate careful objection to this coorporation.  Now, take on the decor at “Famous Dave’s” Restaurants next.  Thank you.  

>I own a few Native American pieces, including two dream catchers,
however all were purchased directly from Native craftspeople at a Native
American cultural festival held in my town each year.

That for me is the difference between appreciation and appropriation.

Hi there. First of all, Sasha, I’m right behind you. Wow, a seriously well presented, well thought out argument apparent to anyone not familiar with US laws, politics and protocols.

I’ve a slightly different take on this, I’m an African-Briton writing from the UK where O.U. have a few stores in main cities and a large webstore. However apologetically O.U. may claim the offence they have caused was unintentional, is it really an improvement to re-name the  Navajo Hip Flask  the Aztec Hip Flask for British customers? Presumably they may be hoping your valid criticism of their marketing will miss the radar in the UK. Don’t worry, it wont.

Do check out Urban Outfitters UK site. http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

I’m sure the Navajo Nation Attorney General may have some thoughts and actions regarding how his nation and culture are represented outside of the US by Urban Outfitters.

But this argument does raise other questions for me. There is in Bristol (UK)  an ethical store selling home decorations owned by a Buddhist Community, that uses it’s profits for genuine  charitable purposes (not all of these are Buddhist, some are international orgs for people of all and any faiths.) Anyhow, they purchase fair trade goods made in developing countries, (Africa, India, etc..) that are sold by fair trade wholesalers and chosen by their buyers from catalogues.

Now I happen to know, these include a whole set of  ‘dream catchers’ not labelled as Navajo or in any way related to Native American First Nationals. They are just hanging there with other mobiles and wind chimes. Some have feathers attached, some have wind chimes attached, some have stain glass decoration, but they all have the woven web in the centre. It’s all done as tastefully as possible. They are certainly not in the same class as some of the obviously cheap and tacky U.O. tosh, but would you view these as equally questionable and demeaning? I would appreciate your take and advice on this issue and will pass it on. I know they would be horrified if they thought what they were doing would cause any offence.

Great article and good for her! I jus wrote an essay about this article and Sasha for a history class focusing on Native America Past, Present, and Future.  It makes you wonder how many other “influenced” trends retailers have represented!

It’s absolutely disgraceful. As if the Native Americans have not suffered enough now this mockery and profit at their expense. Saddens me deeply. Some people/companies have no shame. I think Urban Outfitters need to rethink this. I also believe all Native-American antiquities should be returned to the rightful tribe.

It’s absolutely disgraceful. As if the Native Americans have not suffered enough now this mockery and profit at their expense. Saddens me deeply. Some people/companies have no shame. I think Urban Outfitters need to rethink this. I also believe all Native-American antiquities should be returned to the rightful tribe.

Well said. I’ve had the privilege to be at the reservation in Chinle three times, and I think any self respecting Navajo would spit on these products. They’re ugly, they’re tacky, they’re idiotic and they’re offensive. If it makes you feel any better, this white girl wouldn’t buy any of it either!

I am a skinny little college white girl, but I am so appalled when I see other people from my demographic dressing up in Native American headdresses etc. that they do not know the meaning behind. They’re ignorant of the culture and I can’t believe that it goes so widely without objection.

Charlie, I love you.