Urban Outfitters Removes 'Navajo' From Its Product Descriptions

Last week, we reported that Urban Outfitters was taking heat for featuring the word "Navajo" in its product descriptions.

In an open letter to the chain printed on the site Racialicious, Minneapolis resident Sarah Houston Brown called the merch in question (including a feather necklace, fabric-covered flask and headdress T-shirt) "cheap, vulgar and culturally offensive." The Native American-inspired items also drew ire from the Navajo Nation, whose attorney general sent Urban Outfitters a cease-and-desist letter, taking issue with its use of the trademarked term.

According to the AP, UO spokesman Ed Looram defended the brand's decision, stating "The Native American-inspired trend and specifically the term 'Navajo' have been cycling through fashion, fine art and design for the last few years."

Jezebel now notes that the 21 offending products have been renamed on the store's site (for example, the skivvies formerly known as the "Navajo Hipster Panty" now appear under the innocuous label "Printed Hipster Panty").

And the Navajo Nation Department of Justice just released this response to the removal:

The Urban Outfitters Corporation's recent removal of the Navajo name from its online marketing and retailing are positive actions that are more consistent with the corporation's responsibilities than previously demonstrated. If the company has also ceased using the Navajo name in conjunction with its merchandise in its retail stores and print-media advertising, these are encouraging steps by the company towards amicably resolving this matter.

Do you think the retailer has redeemed itself with the new product names?

Comments

[Ryan81]

04:43 PM on 10/28/2011

What I found the most offensive by UO's line of "Navajo" products was their flask. There is already a stereotype in the U.S. regarding Native Americans and alcohol, and what they did was feed into that stereotype. Props to the Navajo Nation for challenging UO's offensive line of poorly made, overpriced "Native" knock-offs.

[She who thinks]

08:46 AM on 10/24/2011

The company got caught and enough people complained -- THAT'S THE ONLY REASON Urban Outfitters changed their tune. Last week a company executive said they would never change the Navajo brand -- then later in the week the company took the Navajo label off its products. A small victory for Native Americans, but there are MANY MORE offenders out there. One catalog even sells "wooden Indians" - how offensive is that!!?

[trinity]

01:04 AM on 10/22/2011

They're still in business?

[healingcollective]

01:57 PM on 10/21/2011

This is an important issue that deserves a deeper conversation which illuminates the continued plight of the Native Americans, a subject rarely touched upon and horrific to understand.

[hereIamHuff]

10:47 AM on 10/21/2011

UrbanOutfitters makes a business of stealing and appropriating ideas and designs. I'm glad they got called out for this b.s.

[agness nutter]

12:48 AM on 10/21/2011

The question asked is whether or not the retailer has "redeemed" itself. All they have done is attempt to justify use of the word in the first place, and then change it. How is that compensating for previous bad action? Rather an inane question.

[imissmydog]

06:14 PM on 10/20/2011

Stupid shirt and stuff.

[LiberalLee]

03:03 PM on 10/22/2011

So don't buy it.
They ARE pretty though, aren't they?
And what on earth is so "urban" about anything Navajo anyways?
Is Gap their parent cpompany?
I always found their stuff over-hyped and over-priced.

[Veronica]

11:26 PM on 10/22/2011

I like some of their home stuff, it skews "cute yet affordable" rather than the usual "cheap and tacky" of their clothes. I even have a set of dishes from them that has lasted eight years so far. And they do carry a couple decent clothing brands, like Alternative Apparel. But it's the exception.

[Biochemist she]

01:51 AM on 10/24/2011

http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/news-and-opinion/cover-story/clothes_make_the_man-38368134.html?page=1&comments=1&showAll=

This ought to provide you with the requisite background into Urban CEO Richard "Dick" Hayne.

The man is about as authentic as his t-shirt designs.

Sad, really.