Cultural Appropriation is very much appropriate

5/1/25 - For my FASH 470, International Branding and Sourcing Class, Prof. Carr informed our class about the importance of knowing about other cultures, whether in our product designs or business practices. For my fictional clothing brand, Aratame Atelier, my main inspirations for product designs came from traditional Japanese clothing and patterns. As a non-Japanese Filipino-American, I had to understand the importance of being culturally appropriate if I were to create a Japanese-inspired clothing brand. Here is how I did it:

1) Educating Myself - I spent time thoroughly researching Japanese culture by understanding the history of the patterns, garment functionality, and the importance of colors and symbols.

2) Sourcing from local artisans - When creating my brand, I wanted to incorporate not only USA-Made garments but also Japanese clothing into my garments. That is why I created the idea of my blazers having a lining made of an organic hemp fabric called Asanoha. This fabric has been used for many years, since it was used for traditional Japanese clothing during the Edo Period. The lining can also be unbuttoned and worn as another piece of clothing called a Noragi. I chose to source the lining and buttons from two companies that have been used to promote traditional Japanese design methods for centuries and also support local artisans.

3) Support my team and mission - For my brand, I wanted to create a brand that not only uses high-quality sustainable materials but also supports my team by incorporating fair and livable wages, and also works in safe/clean environments. My mission was also to support education for young students by incorporating a $2,500 scholarship and a free professional garment set to be used for professional purposes (ex, job interviews, career fairs, internships, etc). Overall, my brand was created to shed light on investing in high-quality, sustainable clothing and educating others on Japanese culture.

Final Project Poster