Fashion Week: Feathers flying

Trelise Cooper's show drew ire on social media. Photo / Getty Images

The inclusion of an Indian-style headdresses in designer Trelise Cooper's fashion show last night has ruffled feathers and brought accusations of racism.

Dame Trelise's show, as part of New Zealand Fashion Week, featured "70s bohemian vibes" with models wearing native-American and Canadian First Nations' feathered headdresses.

The garments - which have deep cultural significance - quickly drew a backlash from show guests and online.

New Zealand film director Taika Waititi was amongst those offended by the move.

"I think I understand what Trelise means by "70s vibes" - a time when it was cool to be culturally insensitive and racism was super awesome. Nice throw back to better times, babe, we native people celebrate with you," he wrote on a photo of a headdress wearing model posted to the Trelise Cooper Facebook page.

Melbourne-based lawyer and journalist Di White took to Twitter to express her thoughts.

"Hey @trelisecooper, Indian headdresses are not yours to wear. This is cultural appropriation & super offensive," she wrote.

The message was re-tweeted more than 50 times.

Also on Twitter, Kiwi comedian Jeremy Elwood - who hails from Canada - made his distaste about the items known.

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Image 1 of 18: NOM*d. Photo / Getty Images.

"@trelisecooper Actually I think you'll find those are racist, plagiarized, white trash hipster vibes. You should be ashamed."

The items being worn as fashion statements have drawn criticism around the world in recent times, notably when US singer Pharrell Williams and reality television star Khloe Kardashian were pictured in the cultural symbols.

Cooper said she had seen feather headdresses worn as a "fun thing" on her travels in the US and Ibiza recently.

"It's a fashion thing and I don't mean any disrespect," she said backstage after the show.

Fashion Week managing director Dame Pieter Stewart appeared on TV3's Firstline this morning about the incident, and said Dame Trelise meant no offence with the garments.

"It was beautiful to be honest" she said. "It's a beautiful culture. Designers draw their inspiration from all sorts of things and she drew her inspiration obviously from the Indian culture."

Dame Pieter said that designers from around the globe used headdresses.

She said she would not be asking Dame Trelise to apologise.

In December, French fashion house Chanel caused controversy when it used headdresses and US lingerie giant Victoria's Secret apologised over its use of the items in 2012.