“There is a gray zone between harmful misuse and permissible inspiration that creates an ideal breeding ground for cultural appropriation. Putting an end to cultural appropriation would require reform to IP laws, principles and systems to better control cultural representation.”
Brigitte Vézina at a CIGI public lecture
Curbing Cultural Appropriation through Intellectual Property Law
From luxury brands such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton to mainstream retailers such as Urban Outfitters, the fashion industry has developed a noticeable appetite for all things traditional, Indigenous, ethnic or folkloric. When traditional cultural expressions (TCEs) — a term developed by the World Intellectual Property Organization that includes patterns, motifs and other design features created by traditional or Indigenous cultures — are appropriated, it can cause profound cultural, social and economic harm for those who hold the TCEs.
CIGI Fellow Brigitte Vézina’s paper Curbing Cultural Appropriation in the Fashion Industry calls for reform to IP laws, as well as practical solutions for designers and consumers to put an end to cultural appropriation. The paper generated interest on social media as well as interviews with the Canadian Press and The Telegraph.