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The director of the Miromoda Maori fashion showcase says Dame Trelise Cooper can't plead ignorance for her inappropriate use of Native American headdresses for her New Zealand Fashion Week catwalk show.
Dame Trelise has apologised for dressing her models in the headdresses, which traditionally were earned as a mark of courage by men in specific tribes.
Ata Te Kanawa says she can't accept the designer wasn't aware of the controversy over such cultural appropriation, given it has been big news in the fashion world in recent months.
Locally John Key's daughter drew fire for including the look in her art school photo portolio.
Ms Te Kanawa says Miromoda shows how cultural stories can be used in fashion.
"This has been a fantastic segue into our show because we can stand by all our designs with integrity, because we're the people that own it and we use it. The designers use a lot of kaupapa Maori in their designs. Our programme that we print provides a little snapshot of their concept so it's all about the story," she says.
Ata Te Kanawa says overseas writers are showing interest in Miromoda because they want to see a unique and authentic story coming out of New Zealand Fashion Week.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH ATA TE KANAWA CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjE1NTk=
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