29 Jun
Riding the fine line between homage and exploitation

Seeing as Native American prints have peaked in the streetwear game, you knew it wouldn’t take long before brands started venturing a bit further south of the border. Enter this latest iteration of Van’s slip-on, the “Guata Stripe”, which appropriates boldly colorful indigenous Guatemalan fabric patterns onto their classic silhouette. There’s a fine line between homage and exploitation, and I’m thinking this kind of veers haphazardly into the latter territory. But if you really need something to wear to that Mexican-themed frat party, pick them up for a sweatshop-low price of only $54.

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