Is it cultural appropriation to wear a Cowichan sweater?
Is it cultural appropriation to wear a Cowichan sweater?
If you like the look of Cowichan sweaters, don’t buy a “Cowichan-inspired” sweater from a retail giant, buy from a Coast Salish knitter or an Indigenous-owned store that buys sweaters from the knitters. That is cultural respect. Don’t refer to a culture or a People as exotic. That emphasizes the “otherness” of them.
What kind of wool are Cowichan sweaters made from?
sheep’s wool
Because Cowichan knitting developed shortly after the introduction of sheep to Vancouver Island, Cowichan sweaters have always been knitted exclusively from sheep’s wool. Down breeds of sheep, such as Dorset, Hampshire and Suffolk, thrive in the coastal climate.
What are Cowichan sweaters made from?
Contemporary Cowichan sweaters are knit from natural, hand spun, undyed sheep’s wool. This strong and stretchy yarn makes a sweater that keeps its shape.
Can you wash Cowichan sweater?
For Cowichan sweater care use lukewarm water and wool soap or small amount of detergent can be used. Not too much should be used, or the lanolin will be washed out and your piece will no longer be waterproof.
How can you tell if a Cowichan sweater is real?
Style and Design Each Cowichan sweater has a unique design, thickness, size and shape, yet they share many characteristics. They incorporate bulky home-spun wool that is unprocessed — one of the key features that distinguishes a genuine sweater from an imitation.
What is Cowichan style?
Cowichan sweaters have a characteristic style, typically using the natural colours of sheep wool. They often have horizontal bands of pattern around the chest and sleeves. Animal motifs are common, too. Cowichan Tribes sets standards for what can be called a “Genuine Cowichan” sweater.
When were Cowichan sweaters popular?
The sweaters are warm and durable — features that made them popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The designs of Cowichan sweaters come from a variety of sources.
What does the word Cowichan mean?
Cowichan takes its name from “Quw’utsun,” the name given to the valley by its original inhabitants, the Quw’utsun people. It is rooted in the Hul’q’umi’num word “shquw’utsun” which directly translated means “to warm one’s back in the sun,” and is why our valley is, and always has been known as The Warm Land.
Where does Cowichan wool come from?
The Cowichan sweater is a garment created in North America with a distinctly patterned design knitted out of bulky-weighted yarn. It originated during the late 19th century among the Cowichan, a Coast Salish people in British Columbia.
How can you tell a Cowichan sweater?
What is Cowichan known for?
Cowichan is located in Canada’s only maritime Mediterranean climatic zone and is home to the warmest year–round temperatures in the country. For decades now, Cowichan has been producing amazing artisanal food and drink from the region’s burgeoning farms, wineries, cideries and distilleries.
What is the meaning of Cowichan?
