Wednesday 3 June 2015

Buying Native American Apparel – Importance of Research

Nowadays, the ‘Native’ fashion is all the rage. Vibrant coloured dresses in beautiful geometric patterns and stone studded jewellery have been gaining immense popularity these days. At the same time, there has been some set of controversies also. Several reports state that the indigenous communities are outraged as some lifestyle and apparel brands have copied their style and patterns. Why it sparks controversy? For tribal community, the imagery, print or patterns used in the traditional Native American apparel has some deep cultural and religious significance. For instance, dresses like regalia were used only by the priests or for any specific religious ceremonies. Native Americans believed that their clothing has a lot to do with their beliefs, rituals and culture. Even today, the tribal people use masks and headdresses while praying to their gods. Not just the clothes, but some jewels were only used for healing, social ceremonies and more. That is why it is important to respect the cultural and religious significance of traditional Native American apparel.

If you are planning to buy a beautiful Native American headwear or dress, then it is important to
purchase authentic products. Find an authentic local Choctaw artist or reliable online store that offers genuine products so that you can help and support the tribal communities. Reading the books on Native American Indian history and traditions can help you in learning a lot about their culture. Having a better understanding about the tribal arts and crafts can ease your shopping thereby ensuring great value for your money. You may also search over the web resources to dig deeper and learn more about the Native American Indian arts and crafts. No matter whether it is about buying a handcrafted jewellery or beautiful Native American headwear, having the right shopping knowledge can help you in the purchase. According to the Federal Indian Arts and Crafts act of 1990, products that are made by a Native American is only allowed having the label. That is why it is vital to check the artist’s label or Native American seal on the products that you are planning to buy.