Chinese social media users and media outlets have accused Dior of culturally appropriating a traditional Chinese skirt.
According to CNN, the accusations began a few weeks ago after Dior began advertising a $3,800 pleated wool and mohair skirt. The skirt drew comparisons to a historic Chinese skirt called “mamianqun,” or “horse face skirt.”
Chinese media outlets slammed the French luxury brand for trying to pass off the skirt as one of its own unique designs. According to Vice, the Chinese Communist Party publication People’s Daily wrote an op-ed criticizing the brand.
“The so-called Dior silhouette is very similar to the Chinese mamianqun and many details are the same. Why would they shamelessly call it a brand new design? Netizens’ confusion and even anger are completely reasonable,” it wrote.
Zhang Yan, a young Chinese fashion designer that made his debut at the New York Fashion Week in 2019, criticized the brand for misleading customers.
“By calling it their hallmark design, Dior is misleading their customers around the world,” Zhang said in a video on Weibo, according to Vice.
A small group of protestors in Paris also gathered outside one of the brand’s boutiques on Avenue des Champs-Élysées in late July, CNN reports. They held signs in French and English with messages like “Dior, stop cultural appropriation” and “This is a traditional Chinese dress.”
Dior has yet to respond to the accusations, however, the product no longer appears to be available online.
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