ParaSummary Question 1 - CAT 2022

Passage: Tamsin Blanchard, curator of Fashion Open Studio, an initiative by a campaign group showcasing the work of ethical designers says, “We’re all drawn to an exquisite piece of embroidery, a colourful textile or even a style of dressing that might have originated from another heritage. [But] this magpie mentality, where all of culture and history is up for grabs as ‘inspiration’, has accelerated since the proliferation of social media…Where once a fashion student might research the history and traditions of a particular item of clothing with care and respect, we now have a world where images are lifted from image libraries without a care for their cultural significance. It’s easier than ever to steal a motif or a craft technique and transfer it on to a piece of clothing that is either mass produced or appears on a runway without credit or compensation to their original communities.”

A) Copying an embroidery design or pattern of textile from native communities who own them is tantamount to stealing, and they need to be compensated.

B) Media has encouraged mass production; images are copied effortlessly without care or concern for the interests of ethnic communities.

C) Taking fashion ideas from any cultural group without their consent is a form of appropriation without giving due credit, compensation, and respect.

D) Cultural collaboration is the need of the hour. Beautiful design ideas of indigenous people need to be showcased and shared worldwide.