Chanel Launches Luxury Boomerang And Australians Aren't Having It

Chanel launched a resin and wood boomerang that costs $1,325 as part of its luxury sports collection, and Australia’s Aboriginal population is none too pleased, accusing Chanel of cultural appropriation.
According to ABC Australia, the boomerang is a vital part of Australia’s Aboriginal heritage, and ancient carvings in rock art — that might be some of the oldest art in the world — depict the hunting tool, proving its venerable roots. This is why, according to The Sydney Morning Herald, Chanel’s branding of the boomerang as a luxury sporting accessory engraved with the Chanel logo is offensive to Australia’s Aboriginal population.

QUT Professor of Intellectual Property and Innovation Matthew Rimmer says in The Sydney Morning Herald, “As a good corporate citizen, Chanel should apologise fully, withdraw the boomerang from sale, and make appropriate reparations to Australian Indigenous communities.” Indeed, Rimmer’s argument supports the claim that the boomerang is the intellectual property of Australian Indigenous people.

People also took to Twitter to express outrage over the luxury boomerang, calling it wrong on so many levels.

Have decided to save for the next three years so I can connect with my culture via @CHANEL https://t.co/ocZSljGkPW
— Nayuka Gorrie (@NayukaGorrie) May 15, 2017
. Fake boomerangs for AUD $1930. Not a typo. Was @CHANEL feeling left out of the Stupid White Person conversation? https://t.co/AE8if8tsaV
— wyldly amused (@1KarenWyld) May 15, 2017
At A$1,930, the Chanel boomerang costs nearly 10% of the average income of Indigenous Australians https://t.co/l4ICYkR4JU
— Elle Hunt (@mlle_elle) May 16, 2017
As this last tweet points out the cost in AUD of the Chanel boomerang is 10 percent of the average income of Indigenous Australians, a fact substantiated by The Guardian.

And not everyone is displeased with the Chanel boomerang. Jeffree Star, a California beauty blogger is quite smitten with his:

Having so much fun with my new @Chanel boomerang 👌🏼 pic.twitter.com/8w6jGPIuYU
— Jeffree Star (@JeffreeStar) May 15, 2017
Certainly, the Chanel logo equals status, but in this case, it might also be a sign of cultural appropriation. You decide.

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