Anthropologie Responds to Accusations That They Culturally Appropriated Their “En Shalla Tapestry Tote”

After Twitter users accused Anthropologie of cultural appropriation over one of its handbags, the brand responded and pulled the product from its online store.

In a series of tweets Monday night, Twitter user @Saressaa pointed out that the brand's "En Shalla Tapestry Tote," which retailed for $148, appeared to resemble the same pattern as the Palestinian keffiyeh scarf. As pointed out by Complex, the keffiyeh is a symbol of Palestinian nationalism that dates back to the late 1930s. @Saressaa questioned the brand's decision, writing, "Did @Anthropologie really put handles on a keffiyeh??? And then proceeded to call it an “En Shalla Tapestry Tote” for $148??????....So if y’all are profiting off of Palestinian labor/resistance, are you donating any $$$ back to people getting their bodies blown apart in Gaza? Houses demolished in the West Bank?"

Her tweets were in reference to the conflict in Gaza where continuing protests are being held along an Israeli border fence in the Gaza Strip. Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in this month's protests. The protests began on May 14 and occurred as Israel celebrated the 70th anniversary of its founding and the Palestinians simultaneously commemorated the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day, which is in recognition of when they were removed from their homes during the regional war in 1948.

Almost immediately after @Saressaa posted her thoughts on the product, her tweet gained the support of others who expressed their disappointment. "This is cultural appropriation and entirely insensitive," one person tweeted. Another follower also responded, writing: "My culture is not your tote bag!" Others had also questioned the bag's name,"En Shalla," and pointed out that it was similar to the Arabic phrase "Inshallah" which translates to "God willing." Despite tweets questioning the use of the phrase, it's important to note that En Shalla is the name of the company that produced the bag and not the bag itself. In a statement on their website, En Shalla describes the brand as an "Anglo-Moroccan company" that "focuses on high end [sic] accessories blending North African art with modern fashionable ideas."

In an emailed statement to Teen Vogue, Anthropologie addressed the accusations. After letting us know that the product has been removed, they said, "The tote was sourced from a third-party brand, which designed and manufactured the item. To address our oversight, we pulled the tote and apologize for any offense it may have created." The previous listing for the bag described it as "featuring a beautiful tapestry-inspired print, this tasseled tote makes a stylish companion for your next beach adventure. Blending traditional Moroccan techniques with a thoroughly contemporary aesthetic, En Shalla offers a curated collection of high-end, ready-to-wear styles that complement any wardrobe."

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