10 culturally controversial moments in fashion

Scenes at Trelise Cooper's NZFW show, Katy Perry's AMAs performance and Selena Gomez at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards. Photos / Getty Images

From Lady Gaga sexing up the burqa to an Asian Katy Perry and even our own Trelise turning to Native American stylings, the debate around cultural appropriation is hot. We look at 10 instances of borrowing from another culture in the name of fashion.

10. Forever 21's "Straight outta Compton" tweet

In September 2013, Forever 21 launched a line of shirts with logos that read, "Ice Cube," "City of Compton" and "N.W.A.: The World's Most Dangerous Group." The retailer had tweeted an image of white models in the shirts with the words, "New arrivals...straight outta Compton". This tweet has been deleted, and the range has been pulled.

9. Selena Gomez's "Hindu, tribal" pop song

Selena Gomez told US broadcaster Elvis Duran that her song Come and Get It had that "Hindu, tribal feel." She wanted to translate that, so what better way than to sport a bindi at the MTV Movie Awards in 2013, again on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, then on Dancing with the Stars and on the Late Show with David Letterman.

There were calls for an apology, but Gomez insisted to US Weekly, "My hairstylist and my makeup artist are actually really big into the whole culture - they've been around, they've traveled, they've gotten me into various books."

Selena Gomez wears a bindi during her 2013 MTV Movie Awards performance. Photos / Getty Images

App users: Tap here to watch the performance at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards.

8. Iggy Azalea's Indian hip-hop

Australian rapper Iggy Azalea threw together a number of different Indian cultural elements into her Bounce music video. It has it all - a Bollywood dance number, a Holi celebration, and Azalea riding an elephant through the city.

App users: Tap here to watch the music video for Bounce.

7. Katy Perry's Asian persuasion

During 2013, Katy Perry caused a stir at the American Music Awards during an "Asian-themed, Geisha-inspired" performance. Brian Ashcraft, blogger on Kotaku.com said Perry's outfit "mixed and matched Japanese and Chinese culture as if it were a Pan-Asian buffet."

Katy Perry performs at the American Music Awards in 2013. Photo / Getty Images

App users: Tap here to watch Katy Perry's performance at the AMA's.

6. Miranda Kerr's kimono

Last week Miranda Kerr appeared in Japanese Vogue dressed in a kimono. Questions were raised whether a local model or actress should have been used for the shoot. However, the Australian beauty is popular in Japan - just look at this ad she did for P&G Bold earlier this year.

5. No Doubt's "Looking Hot" Native American video

In 2012, No Doubt pulled their second single from their comeback record, Push and Shove. The video shows Gwen Stefani clad in Native American garb (along with platinum blonde hair) and her bandmates as cowboys or other Wild West-themed costumes. After many complaints, No Doubt posted a message on their website, "As a multi-racial band our foundation is built upon both diversity and consideration for other cultures. Our intention with our new video was never to offend, hurt or trivialize Native American people."

4. Trelise Cooper also thinks a headdress looks hot

Earlier this year, New Zealand designer Trelise Cooper apologised for using a feathered headdress in her fashion show. On Facebook, Dame Trelise wrote, "I genuinely respect and honour all cultures, races and religions. It was never my intention to disrespect another culture."

Models wore feathered headdress in a Trelise Cooper show at NZ Fashion Week. Photo/Getty

3. Nike's Polynesian leggings

Following a backlash from the Pacific community, Nike pulled its tattoo-inspired spots-wear for women. The Pro Tattoo Tech gear was inspired by the traditional tatau of the Pacific, but proved controversial when members of the Samoan community said the leggings gave women the appearance of having a pe'a - a traditional tattoo reserved for men.

Photos / Nike, Supplied

2. Gemma Ward's Moko

Just recently, Marie Claire Australia featured model Gemma Ward with a moko on her chin. Ngarino Ellis, a senior art history lecturer at the University of Auckland said only Maori could wear the moko, especially on the chin, as it identifies the wearer's whakapapa - genealogy.

1. Lady Gaga's sexy burqa

In 2013, a track - Burqa/Aura - by Lady Gaga was leaked online. Gaga plays the character of a Muslim woman in a burqa, inviting men to "look behind the curtain". While some view the burqa as oppressive, others find it empowering - the ability to not be judged on sexuality or body type. Sexualising something that seeks to avoid those characterisations is pretty inappropriate.

App users: Tap here to watch the lyric video for Aura.

- nzherald.co.nz