Twitter has accused Anthropologie of cultural appropriation after the brand started selling an En Shalla Tapestry Tote.
The bag, costing $148 (£110), appeared to have the same pattern as the Palestinian keffiyeh scarf, which has traditionally been a symbol of Palestinian nationalism.
Featuring a beautiful tapestry-inspired print, this tasselled tote makes a stylish companion for your next beach adventure, the site listing read.
Blending traditional Moroccan techniques with a thoroughly contemporary aesthetic, En Shalla offers a curated collection of high-end, ready-to-wear styles that complement any wardrobe.
And Twitter user @Saressaa wasnt having it, saying that it was the definition of f*ckery when a symbol of Palestinian resistance is demonized on the daily.
Did @Anthropologie really put handles on a keffiyeh??? And then proceeded to call it an “En Shalla Tapestry Tote” for $148?????? This is qwhite the definition of f!ckery when a symbol of Palestinian resistance is demonized on the daily. Capitalistic cultural appropriation af pic.twitter.com/CA95zvxt4F
— سارة (@Saressaa) May 22, 2018
She then proceeded to question how a label could use such a symbol at a time when the conflict over the Palestinian/Israeli border is as dangerous and volatile as ever.
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So if yall are profiting off of Palestinian labour/resistance, are you donating any $$$ back to people getting their bodies blown apart in Gaza? Houses demolished in the West Bank?
Yes also my culture is not your tote bag!
— Zarfishan Shabbir (@shabbirie) May 22, 2018
And others had questions to ask over the bags name, En Shalla, pointing out its similarity to the Arabic phrase Inshallah, meaning God willing.
The blatant fuckery of it all made me laugh for a second..
— THE PREP GUY (@Theprepguy) May 22, 2018
However, En Shalla is actually the name of the company that produced the bag and not the bag itself.
En Shalla describes itself as an Anglo-Moroccan company that focuses on high end accessories blending North African art with modern fashionable ideas.
This isnt an Anthropologie design. This is a product they carry from a Moroccan brand called En Shalla created by Maryam Bonar and her husband. Their pieces are handmade by Moroccan artisans, and by womens groups in Marrakesh. Do your research so you dont end up crying wolf. https://t.co/fysf4BhxEx
— Rowayda (@row_volution) May 22, 2018
Anthropology has since apologised for the product and removed it from their collection.
In a statement to Teen Vogue, the brand says that the tote was sourced from a third-party brand, which designed and manufactured the item. To address our oversight, we pulled the tote and apologize for any offence it may have created.
So, is it cultural appropriation or is it just bad marketing?
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