Recently a lovely lady asked me tentatively how I dealt with the potentially emotive subject of ‘cultural appropriation’ when it came to wearing Twisties or hair wraps. She desperately wanted to wear head wraps but had been told that doing so was appropriation and she was really worried about being attacked for it.
It isn’t the first time I’ve heard it and it always makes me feel sad.
When I came up for the designs for my Twisties, the aim was to provide a solution for my own particular hair dilemma, and to create a vintage-style fashion accessory that worked for me and, as my business began, my other vintage-loving customers. As Do the Twist grew, it went on to include solutions for ladies who were dealing with hair loss, struggles with low confidence, a desire to feel empowered because how their hair looked didn’t matter. They wanted to create cohesion in their outfit choices, to protect their heads from the sun, to not look unwell, to feel beautiful, to save time getting ready when they were time or energy-poor.
My reply to this lovely lady was as follows and I will continue to stand by this to anyone who challenges me:
Head wrapping and veiling has been around for millennia and from all over the world, whether it be for religious, cultural, or spiritual reasons. It transcends borders or countries and like all fashions, evolves and changes. Appreciation draws the sisterhood together. Levying accusations of appropriation continues to drive us apart. I know which I’d rather have win.
So let us continue to appreciate. Let us gather rather than divide. The world is a tough place for women at the moment
Stay Twisted
Amy xx