koisea.com VS.

irezumiempire.com

Japanese style streetwear are eye-catching, fashion-forward, and effortlessly cool. They look great paired with simple jeans or can be dressed up with your favorite linen dress pants. They’re the perfect addition to your wardrobe, whatever the weather. Unfortunately, many people are concerned about wearing these eye-catching clothing for fear of causing offence of being accused of cultural appropriation. Whilst there are many garments this accusation can be leveled against, we don’t think the Japanese style streetwear is one of them. And here’s why: What is Cultural Appropriation? Cultural Appropriation has become something of a 2018 buzzword and is definitely something to be aware of, and considerate about. Effectively, cultural appropriation is the act of adopting or using elements of one culture by members of a different culture. It is often viewed as something negative because the minority culture is seen as being wrongfully oppressed by the majority group, or stripped of its unique identity. Some notable examples of cultural appropriation that are viewed negatively include white individuals choosing to wear their hair in dreadlocks, or choosing to dress as a Native American for Halloween. Why is the Kimono Shirt Excluded from This? Whilst cultural appropriation is something best avoided, there are several reasons why this concept simply doesn’t apply to the act of wearing a Japanese style clothes. The main reason is that in Japan, the export of Japanese culture and fashions is actively encouraged. The country puts a lot of financial effort into sharing its culture with the rest of the world, and this includes encouraging people from different countries to enjoy their fashions. The people of Japan actively encourage other cultures to enjoy and explore wearing their Japanese styles. The key here is to incorporate your Japanese style clothes into your own wardrobe and inject it with your own sense of style, not to attempt to recreate an entirely Japanese look. It