Defending Valentino's Wild Tribal Africa

This past Tuesday, Valentino's Pierpaolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri present their Spring 2016 collection, nicknamed "wild, tribal Africa." This theme was chosen due to Piccioli and Grazia's being inspired by the colors, the patterns, and the prints of African tribes.

Fair enough. But where the designers made ground with a theme they lacked in execution. 

The collection featured an abundance of articles covered in tribal prints and cornrows but seriously lacking in models from the African diaspora.

Needless to say this ruffled more than a few feathers and of course, social media, the blogs, and Twitter had a field day with the collection, saying:

But just to be honest, I'm kind of glad there weren't that many women of color to model this collection. For several different reasons:

#1: Theming this show as "tribal" and "wild" and then casting chock full of black women might convey a more negative message altogether. 

Think about it: Filling the show with black women and labeling them as tribal and wild might have come off as Valentino insinuating that women of the diaspora are primative and wild.

By including other women in this wild/tribal show, the message is different, and oddly uniting, saying that women of all shades are all a part of this same wild (and fashionable) tribe. 

Change your perspective on the show? Not that much? Me either. 

Because #2 

Umm guys...Africa is a continent...

...With 50 different countries

...And countless tribes...

Contrary to popular belief, assuming that the entire continent of Africa is merely a dusty savannah or a lush jungle full of tribes just makes whoever decided to theme this show either pretty ignorant (at best) or pretty lazy (at worst) when it comes to researching their inspiration. And I'm not sure I want my people involved in a project where people either didn't know enough or care enough to do a Google search. 

Period.

And Finally #3:

Also contrary to popular belief, the clothes (other than a few pieces I saw) aren't that great. While all of the collection was constructed with the quality and detailing that has become signature of the Valentino fashion house, the majority of it was just plain ugly. 

And I usually LOVE tribal prints...

Seriously, I would rather not have Jourdan Dunn parading down a runway looking like an expensive witch doctor rather than a model in gorgeous clothing.

Just my personal opinion.

While I don't believe that the Valentino house meant any harm, this show treads the line between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation quite uncomfortably. Alas, another great opportunity to make an effective statement missed. 

What are your thoughts?