Fashion designer’s adoption of the Navajo word ‘nizhoni’ for their brand and alleged use of AI-generated images of Native people sparks cultural appropriation concerns.
Main Points:
- Dutch fashion designer Kitty van Coesant named her brand Nizhoni, the Navajo word for “beautiful,” leading to accusations of cultural appropriation from Native American fashion and media leaders.
- Investigations by Cody Anthony, founder of Indigenous TV, suggest Nizhoni used AI to create images and texts for their website, including a supposedly AI-generated image of a Native American woman.
- Following backlash, Nizhoni’s owners issued statements on respecting and honoring Navajo culture and heritage, even considering collaborations with Navajo knitters, but faced further criticism for their handling of the controversy.
Summary:
Nizhoni, a Spain-based luxury fashion brand known for its brightly colored knitted clothing, has come under fire for its use of the Navajo word ‘nizhoni’ and alleged reliance on artificial intelligence to generate images and texts related to Native American culture. The controversy began when Navajo entrepreneur Sheyenne Sky highlighted the brand’s potential impact on authentic Navajo businesses on TikTok, leading to wider scrutiny within the Native American community. Cody Anthony’s investigation revealed that the brand’s use of AI extended to both imagery and textual content on its website, raising questions about the authenticity and ethical considerations of such practices.
In response to the backlash, Nizhoni’s owners, Kitty van Coesant and Ben Bosboom, released statements expressing their respect for Navajo traditions and outlining their intentions to engage with the Navajo community respectfully. They mentioned exploring collaborations with Navajo knitters and making donations to support the community. However, these statements did little to quell the controversy, as further issues arose, including the unauthorized use of a photograph claimed to be of the Jumbo family of Navajo knitters. Despite the brand’s apologies and plans to change its name, the situation has highlighted broader concerns about cultural appropriation and the ethical use of artificial intelligence in representing Indigenous cultures.
Source: Navajo word for beautiful at center of controversy
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