Fashion Designers
The Fashion Designer Reimagining Sadu Fabric
Sadu is a colorful and geometric handmade fabric traditionally crafted by Bedouin women. Now, in the hands of a Dubai-based fashion designer, it’s getting a chic, modern update. Hailing from Russia, with a stint in London, Katya Kovtunovich was instantly inspired by the colors and patterns of Sadu. Where others saw limits on the fabric’s usage, Katya saw coats, jackets and kaftans—reimagining how and where we use these special designs.
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Kerk
December 7, 2017 at 6:39 pm
Soulpancake?
Sofia Sorongon
December 7, 2017 at 6:44 pm
Don’t look in the comment section and say damn I wish I wrote that
Curtis Grove
December 7, 2017 at 6:48 pm
I understand the viewpoint of this vid, but I personally think that things like that aren’t meant to be ‘modernized’, and I don’t like how you used the phrase ‘chiq, modern update’ as I think it makes the fabric seem old and almost… outdated.
THAT said however, the filming was great, and I understand where you are coming from. I realise that I will probably receive a lot of hate for this comment, but Hey, that’s just my view.
Please just be more careful with your content in the future – I think that this is my least favourite GBS vid yet.
I do though understand that you did not mean to offend anyone.
Sorry, and thank you.
Pamela Y
December 8, 2017 at 4:58 am
I respectfully disagree, in the video they say that Sadu is a dying art. This designer gives Sadu a new outlet by which it can be worn by people who have grown apart from that fashion as times have changed, also allowing those who have crafted the fabric for generations to continue with their art in a more marketable way.
August Andrew
December 8, 2017 at 5:57 am
just stay in caves and live like you were from stone age or whatever ancient age f you dont want things modernize. plus this channel just featured the designer. theres nothing offending n ths video f u ask me✌😂
Curtis Grove
December 8, 2017 at 7:09 am
Kendura no I don’t mean that.
Ken Nguyen
December 8, 2017 at 2:21 pm
My dude Curtis, i really appreciate you expressing how you feel in a polite manner as you did, not a lot of people do that especially on the internet hahaha. Well who is to say “outdated” is a bad thing? I think she is just trying to be factual, that these fabrics were made in the past, a time that is not now and was popular in a time that is not now, a time that has passed. Just as i would say clothing from 2000 is outdated. I think you have a negative view against “outdated” things or things being called outdated? When really if she was saying in an objective manner, I dont really see a negative point in calling this sadu fabric outdated.
Now, my dude, after googling sadu, do you know what i find? That traditionally people didnt even wear these things as garments. They used it for tents and such. Like dude, she took fabric that people use to make tents, and used it to make dresses. So actually, in 2017 where the vast majority do not live in tents anymore, i think its safe to say that it is outdated. I dont see how you can be taking this negatively.
LagiNaLangAko23
December 8, 2017 at 2:34 pm
This is also happening here in the Philippines where a lot of traditional textile are dying out. Some designers are trying to incorporate them in their collections. The money earned allow there artisans to continue practicing their craft, keeping it alive for the next generation.
It don’t have to go all modern. They can simply sell some of the fabric to the designer and use the rest for whatever traditional use they want.
Tammy
December 7, 2017 at 6:56 pm
While I can’t say that the fabric itself speaks to me, I appreciate the fact she’s trying to keep this kind of art alive. The concept of cultures and practices and languages dying is really sad to me and i love it when people try to preserve it or bring it foreward into the modern age.
Telefono Airis
December 7, 2017 at 6:57 pm
Yeah its always amazing to just copy a pattern
Kendura
December 7, 2017 at 9:46 pm
Then why would the women themselves who make them agree to give it to her? Think about how they said there are only a few people left who were still able to make the fabrics.
Franktaku
December 8, 2017 at 12:55 am
Kendura why does that matter? It’s not like those few women that helped her did it on behalf of all the others. I guarantee there are people that practice this who don’t agree with what they’re doing to it.
Aurora Borealis
December 7, 2017 at 7:28 pm
Isn’t this technically culture appropriation? I’m all for preserving cultures, but I think it’s best for the people that are actually Bedouin to maintain it. I might have missed her saying her family was as her name seems Russian. Correct me if she is. I just don’t agree with making a whole culture a fashion statement and hiding behind the idea that you are keeping it alive.
Rockart9
December 12, 2017 at 12:45 am
Aurora Borealis People like you need to cool it with this cultural appropriation thing. This type of weaving it *dying* out. The Bedouin culture is dying out. In 20 or 50 or so years, you won’t see this type of hand weaving anymore. Designers like her make sure that 1. she supports and gives livelihood the few women making this fabric 2. global interest will spur on and continue this dying craft. *You seriously need to differentiate what is and what’s not cultural appropriation*. Going to Coachella and wearing a ceremonial native American headdress is cultural appropriation. If a designer works with the people that make it to ensure that that part of their culture stays alive for the next few decades is not cultural appropriation. Also, no culture in all the world is without influence. You say you’re Peruvian but there’s a lot of Spanish in Peru’s food, religion and etc. By your definition that’s appropriation by way of colonization.
Rockart9
December 12, 2017 at 12:50 am
Aurora Borealis Are you Bedouin? So are you? If not, stop being offended and “representing” a culture that’s not your own.
Aurora Borealis
December 12, 2017 at 2:56 am
Rockart9 I’ve already discussed all those points you brought up. Thanks for contributing 🙂
Get Lit
February 17, 2018 at 4:09 am
Aurora Borealis Are you gonna cry about it?
Aurora Borealis
February 17, 2018 at 4:16 am
Get Lit you’re 2 months too late to the discussion, but there were no tears involved.
「Bootymancer」
December 7, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Just waiting for people to start crying “cultural appropriation”
LagiNaLangAko23
December 8, 2017 at 2:37 pm
Aurora Borealis even if that was her intention, no doubt that the weavers are getting money out of it, allowing them to keep making their craft. Since their children would see that there might be income from the fabric, that increase the likelihood they’ll make it to, preserving the tradition.
Aurora Borealis
December 8, 2017 at 8:53 pm
LagiNaLangAko23 so why on her website she doesn’t have where the fabric is sourced from and only explains in minor detail that this is traditional sadu fabric. I think she just wanted press through this video. If she really cared about preservation she would have all this information on her website.
「Bootymancer」
December 8, 2017 at 9:07 pm
Aurora Borealis what happened to not being interested enough to Google it?
Aurora Borealis
December 8, 2017 at 9:08 pm
「Bootymancer」 That was only in reference to her being Russian, but she says it on her website so it wasn’t very hard information to find. I mean it was pretty obvious from her name, but you never know.
Eddie Kim
December 8, 2017 at 11:40 pm
I’d be more impressed if she had partnered with Bedouin people and craftsmen to make the heritage, and their skills, a real part of these garments. I’m not interested in blaming her for using the patterns and fabrics, or for her ethnicity. But there’s room for criticism because I don’t see anything that suggests she really cares about upholding tradition. You don’t have to be a scheming evil person to be guilty of cultural appropriation.
shesmah1
December 7, 2017 at 7:52 pm
nice! cultural appropriation!
Rockart9
December 12, 2017 at 1:00 am
Sod off, Aurora. You aren’t even Bedouin.
shesmah1
December 12, 2017 at 1:04 am
Rockart9 the Sadu does not belong to dubai, it belongs to the Bedouin of the Arab peninsula, and I’m one of them.
Aurora Borealis
December 12, 2017 at 2:39 am
Rockart9 are you triggered?
خالد سعد
December 23, 2017 at 9:48 pm
We don’t care
Yandere-Kun in your closet
February 4, 2018 at 7:48 am
shesmah1 cultural appropriation doesn’t exist, because no one has a trademark to culture or owns cultures and not everyone of the same culture will agree, it doesn’t matter if the lady in this video is trying to preserve a culture or to make profit because no one owns sadu, it is her right to do whatever she wants, be it for good intentions or just for profit
TheOldBearTime
December 7, 2017 at 8:13 pm
I find the fabric to be very beautiful.
Rinku Seiker
December 7, 2017 at 8:20 pm
Unpopular opinion: I don’t think this is all cultural appropriation. Yes, an Eastern European woman develops clothing developed from Bedouin culture and design, there is no doubt about it. However, I don’t think that it is in her intent to make the traditional Suda design her own. She appreciates the design, understands that it is dying and is inspired enough to make clothing inspired by the traditional design.
Culture is not static; it moves and adapts everlastingly to the times and the people who practice it. What are the products of such adaptations, who knows. However, the right content and exposure from mass media and word of mouth is crucial to keep getting people to talk about it, so that it stays alive in the minds of others and develops interest in the few who are equally inspired.
I understand that there are some things that could’ve been done better for the video’s purpose, such as having native Bedouin models wear her designs and possibly even getting a traditional Suda artisan alongside the fashion designer to further extrapolate on the history and workings of making such a fabric. But in a two minute video, there can only be so much information put in within that time limit.
Because if the shortness of this video, we don’t fully know the story and should not make concrete opinions on the nature of the designer’s work. Rather, let’s do more due diligence and look up what she’s doing, the Suda design and the Bedouin people for a more well-bodied stance on this.
Flagging such work as ‘cultural appropriation’ without the full details can be disastrous to one’s reputation, especially when the only source of information we have so far is limited in itself to provide the full explanation. But if you still think that this is cultural appropriation, I’d love to see your perspective (as long as we’re both civil) and further discuss this 😁
Aurora Borealis
December 8, 2017 at 12:26 am
Rinku Seiker you can go to her website and gather more information in regards to the collection. It’s just a shame she doesn’t explain what the actual patterns represent or explain where the material is sourced on the site especially when charging $500- $1000 for clothing.
LagiNaLangAko23
December 8, 2017 at 2:35 pm
Stagnant water go stale and green.
Liza: The Funkiest Of Funkoids
December 7, 2017 at 8:21 pm
Why are all of the models white?
bazooka Joe
December 11, 2017 at 5:31 am
Aurora Borealis everyone important anyways
Aurora Borealis
December 11, 2017 at 5:35 am
bazooka Joe because fashion is important.
vytae9
December 12, 2017 at 4:14 pm
Because sharia law
Cerial Munic
December 17, 2017 at 11:07 am
They only can find white models there.
خالد سعد
December 23, 2017 at 9:51 pm
? What is the problem if the model was white
Mili Dogra
December 7, 2017 at 9:02 pm
There’s no such thing as cultural appropriation.
Music Dude
December 7, 2017 at 9:48 pm
Mili Dogra That’s an unpopular opinion. Millennials will be flocking to this comment to harass you now.
Franktaku
December 8, 2017 at 12:51 am
Music Dude yes. People disagree with each other…
marmalade
December 8, 2017 at 3:51 am
I find cultural appropriation should be decided by the group of people who own the culture itself. If the bedouin people themself dont mind, then it is okay.
I would appreciate if the designer would learn and show more about the meaning and story behind every piece of fabric and patterns she uses though. I agree about that one.
Cultural appropriation does exist. The rest is simply deciding whether its offensive or not. What makes it disrespectful is when somebody outside the culture takes the art, changes it to suit the popular market without bothering to study about its importance and meaning inside the culture, and popularizes the changed form of the art into something unrecognizabe as their own creation. This will make the original owner of the art seem like theyre lesser than this person who takes it–Yeah, I made it better when I wear them! I am better than these people! Is kind of the message people will get subconsciously abt this.
If the og owners likes them, and its done respectfully, then whatever, me as the person who knows nothing abt the art wont try to decide what value the art has and how it should be treated
Yandere-Kun in your closet
February 4, 2018 at 7:50 am
marmalade cultural appropriation doesn’t exist because no one owns culture, not even the members of that culture. besides, not everyone in a culture will agree
Alicia Steele
December 8, 2017 at 4:12 am
This what Lindsey Lohan trying to sound like.
zMintberryCrunch
December 8, 2017 at 4:25 am
Old town of Dubai? You mean the 1990s?
hamad al mohammad
December 9, 2017 at 6:44 am
Dubai is a very old place it was before the uae
SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR
December 8, 2017 at 4:37 am
Its easy to make money by advertising Dubai, but laborers in Dubai (GCC) are treated worst than animals, make a Great Big Story on that..but you wont! Emirates Etihad all employ third party workers, with contract terms as 5-10% salary cut if absent for a day..But all you see is Jennifer Aniston and Nicole Kidman…
9thWatcher Music
December 8, 2017 at 7:06 am
What the fuq… 1.5 million subs?!
Did not notice that.. been here since 20k
poppyrobin
December 8, 2017 at 11:35 am
It’s nice to know that someone is keeping the culture alive!
H N Q
December 8, 2017 at 5:20 pm
*C U L T U R A L A P P R O P R I A T I O N*
HelloMyNamelsBanana
December 8, 2017 at 7:51 pm
THIS is how you represent other cultures: it benefits the originator’s community and you know the history behind it.