What all experienced festival attendees and first-timers alike have been eagerly anticipating has finally arrived. The summer festival season is here. Eager to indulge in EDM festival festivities and bend to the controls of dirty bass and rhythmic synths, is it even possible for anything to be hotter this festival season than the music itself? What is expected to be a scorching topic this festival season is culturally appropriated festival fashion. Cultural elements have been incorporated into festival fashion in ways that have appeared to be disrespectful. While the festival fashion trends may be hot, what has shown to be even hotter is the rage it has generated in numerous cultures.

Culture is a source of identity as it engulfs history, traditions and languages. Cultures have been passed down for generations with the intention of preservation and continuance. It did not prevail centuries to have elements of its character discourteously adapted.

Cultural appropriation within the music festival scene can be most notably distinguished by the adoption of elements from Native America, Hindu and Southeast Asian cultures. Headdresses, bindis and hijabs are several cultural elements that have been reformed by festival-goers into “Fashion.” Wither the reason may be inspiration or admiration of a culture, incorporating elements from cultures into fashion has generated controversy and disagreement for various reasons.

In Native American culture, headdresses are purely sacred and symbolic. As opposed to their tradition intention, in the music festival scene headdresses are seen as a bold and glamorized fashion statement. Headdresses still remain as equally prominent and honorable in present day as they did decades into the past of Native American history. The immense feathers of the headdress are vibrant and glorious. Perhaps this is why they have been adapted into the festival scene as a fashion trend, but whatever the reasons, headdresses have deeper connotation. In the Native American culture, headdresses symbolize the fearlessness, strength and courage of tribe leaders and important tribe members. The feathers of the headdress engulf the characteristics of noble actions.

Wearing a headdress to a festival is taboo. However, some festival-goers appear to have missed the memo. A headdress may be complementing to festival attire but what will not be complimenting is the backlash that will be received for incorporating the Native American element into festival wardrobe. Culture is not a costume and it should not be treated as such.

Bindis are another culturally appropriated trend that is glamorized within the music festival scene. Bindis are a trending festival fashion used to complement and add accent to the face. The intention of Bindis in Hindu cultures is entirely different from its intention in festival fashion. Hindu bindis come in different colors, have different meaning and are worn for all different occasion. Bindis can symbolize different stages of life for both men and woman. While bindis may not be as common and significant in the present day as they may have been in the cultures past, it is still an important element apart of the Indian history and heritage. Wither bindis are worn as a fashion statement or in respect of the culture; it is a decision that should be courteous and respectful and not a glamorized one.

Hijabs are traditional veils that cover a woman’s face and leave only the eyes exposed. The style of these veils has been adapted into the festival scene. Symbolizing modesty and encompassing key traditions of the Islamic culture, Hijabs are culturally appropriated in the music festival scene in a contradictory way. They are being adopted, and conformed into enigmatic accessories. For women who truly wear hijabs in a traditional and culturally appropriate manner, the conformed and adapted festival hijab arguably mocks the traditions of hijabs, and their true intent is being tainted.

Cultural appropriation has been perceived as stealing the traditions and expressions of cultures in an attempt to develop new concepts of design. However, is this really stealing or is it acceptable to adapt certain aspects of cultural elements if it is a source of inspiration and also done in a respectful and subtle way? In festival culture, in many cases, it is obvious that many festival-goers are incorporating cultural elements into attires for the wrong reasons.

Disrespect is something that is never enjoyed and it should not be tolerated. While it may be acceptable to be influenced by a culture and adopt certain customs, culture is a source of identity and history and it has sensitive boundaries. No harm comes from respectfully honoring a culture, but what will become intolerable is not respecting the culture in the appropriate ways it should be honored.