Marc Jacobs has defended using dreadlocks during his New York Fashion Week show.
The 53-year-old designer was widely criticised for cultural appropriation after the likes of Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid all wore fake rainbow-hued dreadlock wigs during his show – but Marc has now hit back at the accusation.
The acclaimed designer wrote on Instagram: "All 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.
"I respect and am inspired by people and how they look. I don’t see colour or race – I see people. I’m sorry to read that so many people are so narrow minded… Love is the answer.
"Appreciation of all and inspiration from anywhere is a beautiful thing. (sic)"
Marc explained that the controversial designs were inspired by "rave culture, London 1980s’ fashion and Japanese Harajuku girls".
Marc’s New York Fashion Week show used as many as 12,500 hand-dyed woolen dreadlocks.
The colourful synthetic locs were each carefully hand-dyed and spun by mother-and-daughter team Dreadlocks by Jena.
Hairstylist Guido Palau said: "Marc first started talking about this at the end of July. He’s really inspired by Lana Wachowski’s hair that we used [in the fall ad campaign].
"She’s got these beautiful, coloured wool hair extensions. Then we had to find out where to get the hair from, so we looked on the internet and Jena was down in Florida making wool-dyed hair!"
Marc Jacobs hits back at cultural appropriation claims
