Marc Jacobs has responded to critics who accused the designer of “cultural appropriation” for outfitting white models with dreadlocks during his New York Fashion Week show this week.
The 53-year-old fashion icon caused a stir on social media when models including Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid strode down the runway in New York City this week wearing large, multi-colored dreadlocks in their hair.
But in an Instagram post on Thursday, quickly deleted but captured by Refinery29, the designer lashed out at critics “who cry ‘cultural appropriation’ or whatever nonsense about any race or skin color wearing their hair in any particular style or manner.”
“Funny how you don’t criticize women of color for straightening their hair,” Jacobs wrote. “I respect and am inspired by people and how they look. I don’t see color or race — I see people.”
The backlash against Jacobs began in earnest on Twitter after the show this week, with many calling out the designer for being racially insensitive.
nah but honestly why did Marc Jacobs ruin his whole collection by doing white dreadlocks
— r 🍥 (@notweneisor) September 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/vcutedragon/status/776615010885697537
not feeling those rainbow dreadlocks on white models in the Marc Jacobs show…
— pigeon gurl (@robotkirra) September 15, 2016
“I’m sorry to read that so many people are so narrow minded… Love is the answer,” Jacobs wrote in his response to the controversy. “Appreciation of all and inspiration from anywhere is a beautiful thing. Think about it.”
Models backstage at the Marc Jacobs Spring 2017 fashion show during New York Fashion Week at the Hammerstein Ballroom on September 15, 2016 in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Marc Jacobs)
Jacobs apparently deleted his response, but not before social media users weighed in, calling it “problematic,” insufficient and even racist.
https://twitter.com/fairywiak/status/776835715841794049
https://twitter.com/divaanuare/status/776837966501076992
The designer then followed up with another apology.
“Of course straight hair isn’t a white thing,” Jacobs said. “I was referring to hair styling and texture for my fashion show and [being] defensive. I apologize if I offended anyone at all. Certainly wasn’t my intention at all,” he said.
New York Fashion Week ends Friday.
Follow Daniel Nussbaum on Twitter: @dznussbaum
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