Well, well well, Urban Outfitters is in trouble with the Navajo Nation! All with this little trinket:
Apparently calling this a "Vintage 1930's Navajo pendent", U.O. violated the Indians Arts and Crafts Act. They also have underwear and socks with the Navajo title too. This caused an outrage and U.O. pulled these items to avoid controversy.
This made me a little curious and I did my own search on Freepeople.com and the "Navajo" label definitely did not stop them.
This Magical Feather Bag has a "Metal Native American pendant hanging on a leather chord near the strap" . Hmm... So if you call it 'Native American', can no one claim it? (I wouldn't either.. it's $400!)
Navajo - Legal case. Native American - nothing... that I know of. I agree that U.O probably should have gotten permission to use the term Navajo in their advertising. But yeesh.. it does sure feel like suing-slap happy. But at least they took it off! Freepeople.com also led me to this footwear company:
Manitobah Mukluks Trapper Moccasins. 98$. But the company name caught my curiosity and I googled them further.
The company is made up of the Metis, a group of Aboriginal people in Canada who can trace their roots back to First Nations and European heritage. Their company punchline is to make footwear that is authentic to the style and materials according to tradition and the way their ancestors. Production is close to home and they gain profit. That's not bad right? I think it is definitely a better alternative to smoking and casinos.
It's traditional, it's sort of affordable (to the working gal), and it's payment to the original people. I'm for it!
What started off as an outrage to the mainstream clothing company turns out to be a happy ending for a local clothing company! At least for me :D Yay!
If it's related to Native Americans.. give the tribes and ancestors some credit (and profit!)
Shop happy!
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