Cultural appropriation is so widespread you might not notice it when you see it. Take, for instance, the extensive use of Native American patterns and visual themes that many outdoor gear makers integrate into their designs to make a product appear more “outdoorsy,” reminiscent of The West (capital W) or worthy of a nice-looking Instagram photo. Rumpl, a company that makes camping blankets, is owning up to using such designs in its products and taking the next step to remedying that.
Admitting that it has naively used Native American-inspired designs in the past, the company announced two new limited-edition collections of some of its most popular products that feature artwork created by two Native American artists, Darby Raymond-Overstreet and Jordan Craig. Raymond-Overstreet’s work draws on her Navajo heritage, particularly weavings made during the period between the 1880s and 1950s, while Craig translates Cheyenne beadwork into large-scale paintings, among other art forms.
In addition to bringing focus to these artists’ work, Rumpl is donating a portion of the sales of each item in these collections to the First Peoples Fund, an organization dedicated to supporting Indigenous artists and culture bearers.