Why stick to "Made in Africa"

hello everyone.
I'm Hashimoto, a member of RICCI EVERYDAY.

And ... Merry Christmas!
How do you spend Christmas this year?
By the time this article is released, I think I'm probably eating cakes at home. smile

The story changes, but the title of this column is "Why are you particular about" Made in Africa "?"
RICCI EVERYDAY products are all produced in Uganda, except for I and masks. RICCI EVERYDAY is particular about creating products, including the Akero bag series in Uganda and Africa.
The background is to consider the problem of "cultural plagiarism".

"Culture plagiarism" is often heard recently.
I think you may hear it in various situations, but I think you often hear about fashion.

For the RICCI EVERYDAY, which sells products using African plastic lines, "the plagiarism of culture" is not always a person, but always needs to consider this problem.

This time, I would like to talk about plagiarism of this culture, including how RICCI EVERYDAY thinks.

1. What is "plagiarism of culture"?
2. Theft of culture in the fashion world
3. About what RICCI EVERYDAY is doing
4. End
Reference material

1. What is "plagiarism of culture"?
"Culture plagiarism" is simply to treat culture unreasonably. In particular, the problem of the minority ethnic culture in the Majority ethnic groups will make the problem even more serious.

With globalization, technological innovation, and the spread of Internet and SNS, we are living in an era where we can easily learn about other cultures. In that sense, the barriers to the country, the country, culture and culture have been lowered, making it easier to learn about different cultures.

However, at the same time, it is an era where it is easy to know, and there are many situations where unilateral interpretations are made without mutual understanding. Especially in the fashion industry, you may be able to often see such situations.

2. Theft of culture in the fashion world
For example, a collection of high -end brands announced, plagiarism of numerous culture was a problem.

There were brands that were unreasonably handled traditional culture as mere "fashion", such as letting the models walking on cat walks on racials, such as putting dread hair or wearing a turban.

Fashion is a tool that expresses the person himself and expands the possibilities. However, it is different to use the word "fashion" conveniently to make traditional culture unreasonably. Furthermore, the business is more complicated by entangled in business.

If you care about "plagiarism", you may think that fashion has not evolved so far. (Given the history of colonial rule, such opinions may be reasonable.) Also, other cultures will give us a huge inspiration. But how to treat other cultures is the challenge.

Even today, one of the big tasks in the fashion industry is cultural plagiarism.

3. About what RICCI EVERYDAY is doing
RICCI EVERYDAY, which sells bags and accessories made in African plastic, talks about how cultural plagiarism is and what is trying to prevent such a thing.

① Make a product with a cloth made in Africa.

 African plints are made not only in Africa but also in China and India. Although it does not deny everything made in areas other than Africa, RICCI EVERYDAY uses what is made in the Ghana Republic, located west of Africa, and is close to the African tradition and snuggle up. I am.

② Design with local people

RICCI EVERYDAY products are designed to be designed mainly by our representative, Nakamoto Chitsu, but not only Nakamoto but also local Uganda staff has decided the design together.

We respect the opinions of local people because we deal with African plints, and try to create products that will make our customers happy based on that.

③ Be aware that it has been returned to the site

I'm thinking about making a product that makes it a plus for the local area.
In the case of RICCI EVERYDAY, set up a company (directly managed workshop) in Uganda, hire local people, pay salaries, and pay taxes in Uganda. In addition, it protects, enhances the technology of local people, and add value to it.

By doing so, you can return to the site without exploiting traditional culture and technologies, including Ugund staff. Because of such a background, we can deliver products to Japanese customers and other customers around the world.

④ Study sessions by Japanese staff

In addition, the Japanese staff who sell products also open a study session, albeit irregularly.
I have learned a lot about various things at study sessions, but I repeatedly input the history of Africa and Uganda, the history of African plastic, and the current state of Uganda society. By doing so, Japanese staff can only sell products, but to provide customers with knowledge and respect Uganda and African cultures. There were many times that I myself thought, "I'm glad I studied properly!"

With the above points, RICCI EVERYDAY acts every day so that there is no plagiarism or exploitation of culture.

4. in conclusion
What did you think.
I talked about "the plagiarism of culture" this time, so there are many things that have not been featured yet, but I hope you learn a little.

RICCI EVERYDAY will continue to work hard to create fair products in the sense of respecting African plastic and Uganda culture and history, and will provide good things so that customers can make customers feel a little bright. increase.

Reference material

・ Barbara POZZO (2020) "Fashion Between Inspiration and AppRopriation", The New Frontiers of Fashion Law(Last browsing day December 22, 2020)

・Stephanie Soh (2018), "DOES FASHION HAVE A Cultural AppRopriation Problem?", BBC News(Last browsing day December 22, 2020)

・ "Cultural plagiarism neurosis?", (August 11, 2015) Kaori Nakano Official Site(Last browsing day December 22, 2020)

 

The staff will welcome you after conducting the temperature inspection and wearing a mask.
When you come to the store, please cooperate with the disinfection at the alcohol gel near the door.

Currently, directly managed stores want to enjoy shopping for customers in the distance, so we provide online customer service services by LINE video call. In addition, when you visit the store directly, we ask you to make a reservation in advance.

Reservations on the day are also possible. Please make a reservation at least one hour before the desired time zone.

From the link below, you can make a reservation for advance and online customer service.
Preliminary reservation / online customer service service for visiting the storeFrom here

RICCI EVERYDAY THE HILL
4 minutes on foot from the Tokyu Toyoko Line Daikanyama Station Central ticket gate
24-1 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo ROOB2 2nd floor C 03-6455-2446