In solidarity.
Standing with the AAPI community, a new addition to 'Reading Lists,' re-educating folks on The Great Plains Feather Headdress, why we need Fashion for All and exhibitions that you shouldn't miss.
Hello everyone,
As if the process of navigating and trying to thrive (or simply just survive) amidst these precarious times hasn’t been arduous enough, our AAPI community needs our support more than ever. The senseless attacks last week showed us nothing too surprising - that racial hatred (as a result of sheer cowardice and desperate attempts for control) is relentless and self-perpetuating. That said, we are going to continue to push through the work that we have been doing, prioritizing racialized and minoritized communities and providing a platform for sharing the critical work of AAPI voices. And there’s still more work to be done! If there is something that you would like for us to research more deeply and publish or if there’s an AAPI individual or organization that you like to see in our Directory, please do not hesitate to reach out via our ‘Contact Us’ form.
If you’re looking for resources to support the AAPI community during this crisis, the FRD team is sharing an active list that we’ve found useful (thanks Daniela, Anthony and Rachel!).
On behalf of The Fashion and Race Database team:
The Fashion and Race Database stands in solidarity with the AAPI communities in denouncing the rise of Anti-Asian violence and acknowledging the long-standing history of racist violence and discrimination against Asian communities. FRD does not tolerate racism or xenophobia in any of its forms.
From The Library: The Fashion and Race Database Conversation Series
In case you missed it last year, we’ve recently compiled our ‘Retail as a Portal’ conversation series into a complete viewing list for you (you can find it nested under our new ‘Reading List’ section).
‘The Library’ and the ‘Reading List’ is where we collect and organize countless educational sources all in one place. Referenced by educators, students, fashion enthusiasts and curious minds, this multi-faceted repository provides an expanding selection of tools for learning about all matters connected to fashion, appearance, power and the impact of ‘race.’
Do you appreciate our content and research? Learn about our sponsorships or support us with a one-time or monthly, sustaining donation!
Objects That Matter: The Great Plains Feather Headdress
As a bit of a re-introduction for our new subscribers, we revisit one of our first 'Objects That Matter' entries, The Great Plains Feather Headdress, commonly mis-appropriated and often referred to as a “war bonnet.” This object was researched by our Summer 2020 Research Assistant, Adriana Hill:
The common misconception is that all Native Americans wore war bonnets or that they were a fashionable accessory. In reality, the feathered bonnet headdress is a culturally and spiritually significant article of adornment for the tribes specifically from the Great Plains region. The most commonly appropriated war bonnet, featuring large face-framing feathers and a descending trailer, is most closely associated with the Lakota, Cheyenne, Mandan, Hidatsa, and Crow.
'Objects That Matter' gathers numerous fashion objects outside of the Western lens and provides a brief history, showing why they matter, as many of these items have been widely appropriated or referenced.
The Directory: Fashion for All Foundation
This week’s directory spotlight was selected by FRD Media Assistant Daniela Hernandez, Fashion for All Foundation (FFA):
At Fashion For All Foundation, we believe, every talented and qualified person should have access to all roles in the fashion industry no matter their background, racial makeup, size or physical ability. The Fashion Industry can take the lead and serve as stand up examples by setting the trend of diversity, representation and inclusion. It is our hope that by doing so, we the fashion community will spark a revolution and the world will follow the trend of Unity.
Learn more about Fashion for All on our Directory page.
The discourse on fashion and race threads through a vast network of like-minded endeavors. ‘The Directory’ catalogues other sources of information and inspiration.
The Calendar: Exhibitions on view this season
Our calendar boasts a wide array of special events such as talks, workshops, gatherings and exhibitions. In case you haven’t checked out the functionality of ‘The Calendar,’ at the top, you can select a filter for the kind of event you are looking for (e.g. an exhibition, a webinar) and you can also filter out the ‘ongoing’ list of exhibitions currently on view to peruse ‘single events.’ We do our best to try to catch all of the latest exhibitions and post them for your convenience, but if there are any events that you would like to see (or publicize), please feel free to share.
A global network of events, conversations and opportunities will continue to evolve the discourse on fashion and race. ‘The Calendar’ remains on the pulse and keeps you looped in.
That’s it for now. Please stay safe and we’ll see you next week.
Yours in service and solidarity,
Kim Jenkins
The Fashion and Race Database Team: Rachel Kinnard, Daniela Hernandez, Kai Marcel, Laura Beltrán-Rubio and Anthony Palliparambil, Jr.