With Halloween around the corner, advocacy group Chiefs of Ontario worked design agency BBDO Toronto to stop inaccurate and racists portrayals of different races on Halloween with the #NotaCostume campaign. The initiative discusses cultural appropriation, specifically with Indigenous people whose cultural garments are often "borrowed" or "misconstructed" on this holiday.
The #NotaCostume campaign asks encourages those who want to dress as an Indigenous person to dress up like an Indigenous firefighter, doctor, lawyer, pilot, or any professional "because that's what an Indigenous person is." The aforementioned Indigenous person costumes will be on sale at Tronto-based costume Theatrics Plus.
The #NotaCostume campaign will roll out on social media and through PR.
Image Credit: Peter Andrew Lusztyk
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Anti-racist Costume Campaigns
- Advocacy groups and design agencies collaborate to stop inaccurate and racist portrayals of different races on Halloween.
- Cultural Appropriation Awareness
- Initiatives aim to raise awareness about cultural appropriation, particularly with Indigenous people whose cultural garments are often misused during Halloween.
- Professional Costumes
- The #NotaCostume campaign encourages people to dress up like Indigenous professionals, like firefighters, doctors, or pilots, rather than appropriating cultural garments.
Sectors Adopting This
- Fashion and Costume Industry
- Industry players may need to rethink existing designs to ensure cultural sensitivity and inclusivity.
- Marketing and Advertising
- Awareness campaigns and social media promotions can help raise awareness and change consumer behavior towards culturally appropriate costumes.
- Advocacy and Non-profit Organizations
- Non-profit organizations can initiate campaigns and collaborations with design agencies to promote social justice and awareness about cultural appropriation.
