Cultural appropriation often infuriates me because it's a reminder of the privilege white people enact when they co-opt things and devoid them of their cultural meaning.
When it comes to "trends," the labelling is more insidious. Things like chutneys take on an artisanal slant that makes them the "hot new thing" — even though they've been around forever.
Here are five things we've been doing long before they became "trends."
1. Haldi doodh becomes Turmeric Latte
Turmeric Latte
Photo Credit: LucyBee
Remember when your nani would force you to drink haldi doodh during a cold? Well, why not buy it for $5 at a coffee shop? None other than Gwyneth Paltrow, the queen of pretentious and expensive recipes, wrote about the anti-inflammatory and indigestion-curing properties of a turmeric latte. It soon caught on in coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Australia and North America, where it was coined "golden milk"!
2. Dandiya Becomes the Pound Workout
We'd agree that doing dandiya would complete more than your daily cardio needs, but a gym studio in Los Angeles reckons that dandiya is the next best workout. It "created" Pound, a workout where you pretend to drum with sticks and dance to pulsating music and in circles. Hmm… We're pretty sure that sounds like dandiya.
3. Kourtney Kardashian Discovers Ghee
Photo Credit: Buzzfeed India
Hidden behind a paywall for her personal website, you can discover Kourtney Kardashian's lifehack of eating ghee every morning. Ghee is a staple of all South Asian foods, but it apparently wasn't around until Kourtney shared her expertise. The things that make us SMDH.
4. Pajamis become Punjammies
Photo Credit: Bayley and Birch
The International Princess Project aimed to empower sex workers in India by creating these clothes, but it's plainly disrespectful to then call these items of clothing "Bhavani," "Traditional India" and "Large Paisley." This brand closed their operations, but the pajamas are still sold online. Using these terms to sell your brand reeks of othering and classicism.
5. Holi Becomes the Colour Run
Photo Credit: Brown Girl Magazine
Admittedly, Holi season is tons of fun, but the Colour Runs and the "Run or Dye" events you've likely seen around are egregiously appropriative. They're devoid of any reference to where the actual tradition comes from, but participants are fine with taking the culture of white outfits, fun and music.
Main Image Photo Credit: Nutrition Stripped
Rumnique Nannar
Author
Rumnique Nannar is a new journalist with a passion for all things pop culture, film, and art. Rumnique was born in London, with a predilection for devouring English chocolate with her Vogue, ANOKHI, and Glamour magazines in tow. She is currently in her Journalism Masters at UBC. Connect ...
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