Aboriginal activist Nayuka Gorrie has replied to Chanel

“When I think about Aboriginal culture, I think @chanel”

The Aboriginal writer and activist Nayuka Gorrie wrote on Twitter about the infamous Chanel's boomerang. Then, she has continued with irony, adding: “Have decided to save for the next three years so I can connect with my culture via @chanel”.

Not only this, Gorrie also wrote an article for The Guardian magazine in which she explains aboriginal people's anger about that fashion item who diminishes and uses, one of their cultural symbols. 

"As a 26-year-old Aboriginal woman I am not in Chanel’s key marketing demographic.[…] To understand our anger, the company might need to know about our position in society. Our land was stolen and we were subject to genocidal and paternal policies. We were not allowed to practise our culture, it was punishable. Our knowledges weren’t passed down; we have the highest rate of language extinction in the world. What little is left needs protecting. None of this is sexy, Chanel. None of this is luxury. You are not here for any of our history. Like indigenous peoples around the world we live on the margins and have to fight for what little we have. Our art, customs and practices are appropriated to line the pockets of others while we live in disadvantage. Chanel has sent out a statement to the media outlets who have reported on the justified anger of Aboriginal people”

Harsh words addressed directly to the French Maison – which last week apologized publicly to all Aboriginal community by declaring that the boomerang did not want to be an offense against their culture. 

Gorrie's article has also raised the question about "wrongful" cultural appropriation by fashion. Now it appears to be no limits “Now I look forward to Mercedes-Benz’s new canoe range. I look forward to Tiffany diamond-encrusted spears. I’m kidding of course, but how is this any different?” the author said with irony, and we often take for granted the symbolic meaning of the cultural objects that fashion copies and uses.  

Online opinions about Chanel's boomerang support Gorrie and the Aboriginal community, but there are still many people who don't understand the gravity of that item. And probably they have already bought their glamorous boomerang.