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Kapital - hippies, Japanese farmers and post-apocalypse survivors

tdes81

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So you’re saying that guy on TikTok with the crappy house and one Kapital skeleton thing in his closet is somehow not some ordinary fuckhead, the Chinese version of a Trumper (in terms of poorly informed conservatism and chauvinism, not the racism part)?

Well I mean he's literally cutting up a shirt because a brand called out his government for decades of Tibetan genocide...

The parallels between that and trumpism (any kind of insane nationalism for that matter) are pretty strong.
 

hoodog

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This might be old news, but I just noticed that the Free Tibet photo collection has been completely removed from the Kapital website ?
 

dieworkwear

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This might be old news, but I just noticed that the Free Tibet photo collection has been completely removed from the Kapital website ?

Looks like it's still accessible if you visit the direct link

 

hoodog

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Looks like it's still accessible if you visit the direct link


Yah, but still hidden from the main page, hidden from view... ?
 

tdes81

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Edvez5B.gif
 

dieworkwear

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This is not an attack on Kapital, Eric, or the Heddels guys, but I wish that podcast was edited to just convey what Eric had to say, and then the hosts brought in a specialist who can explain why this might be offensive to Chinese people and Tibetans. Or why Tibet is such a powderkeg in East Asian politics. As is, the podcast is kind of just wishy washy "we didn't mean to offend anyone." Whereas I think it could have been an opportunity for people to learn more about this specific issue.
 

peachfuzzmcgee

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Honestly the whole thing turned me off the brand for good. I like what I have but I think I'm good on them now.

I knew that they were lazy but not that lazy, just a really wishy washy response. Free Tibet is literally the most open challenge to the CCP. Its like brain dead as hell to act like they didn't think it would offend people and then photo shopping it to say free bidet is even more brain dead.
 

dieworkwear

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I still like the brand and I love Eric's photography, at least outside of this specific campaign, which I think everyone, including Kapital people, would agree was handled indelicately. It's a strange thing because what may be obvious to one person may not be obvious to others. I would like to say that people shouldn't trivialize political issues into "aesthetics," but when I was young, I used to collect Communist propaganda posters. Not because I agreed with the politics, but because I thought they were cool. These posters were often originals from foreign places, of which I knew little about. If someone pressed me at the time about the specificities of Polish or Cuban politics, I probably wouldn't be able to give an answer.

I do think this specific podcast episode could have interviewed someone with a deeper and richer insight into this specific topic, maybe an expert on Chinese politics. But I understand that a fashion podcast may not be the best forum for that. Also that such editing and research take time, and people are hard-pressed nowadays for resources.

The little I know about this situation: The Tibet situation goes back to a marriage 1300 years ago between the daughter of a Chinese Tang Emporer and a Tibetan King (also the founder of Tibet). The Chinese see this marriage as a "linking" of the two countries; the Tibetans just see it as a marriage. It's hard to separate out what the actual marriage meant to Chinese people and Tibetans at the time because so much of this specific issue has been politicized for modern politics.

However, when the Chinese communist party went into Tibet to "liberate" it in 1949, the Tibetans certainly didn't see it as legitimate. Chinese communists not only saw Tibet as part of China, but also that they were liberating people from a backwards theocratic state. I think to appreciate why Chinese people are upset at this specific issue, you have to appreciate that 1) 1949 was a very long time ago and even most Tibetans recognize that "Free Tibet" is an unrealistic goal. For all intents and purposes, China is the sole governing body over Tibet at this point (Tibet has been part of China for longer than Hawaii has been a US state); and 2) China has a weak central government and is in constant fear of another Tiananmen Square. To Chinese people, a strong China is One China; the break-up of China begins with the break-up of states. Hence why Tibet and Taiwan are such sensitive issues, especially as people around the world, including Americans, see US influence as purely imperialistic.

There was a bit of the podcast that felt like 1) wishy washy "we didn't mean to offend anyone," and 2) "Chinese people are crazy," which felt a little simplistic. The responses may have been from wumaos (Chinese people who get paid to post certain things online), but there are also a lot of Chinese people who feel the way those posters expressed. Although I agree with earlier posters that such nationalism is often egged on by the government.
 

peachfuzzmcgee

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I don't know, but I totally understand the sentiment of cool things for the sake of being cool but it's one thing if China held Tibet and was currently a peaceful-ish state akin to United States and Hawaii however under the backdrop of Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Taiwan it seems super tone deaf to do it and not have it mean anything to them. Then free bidet? Oof ouchie ow.

It takes like one quick Google to find that it's a pretty big deal regardless. It doesn't change my thoughts on liking some of their stuff but with all the cool brands conscious of their message, it seems sort of whatever to buy from em.

I don't know maybe I'm a sensitive baby, but after listening to the stories of one of my friends who is stuck in Japan because going home will mean losing all her freedoms especially since she took part in the protests in HK. Seeing companies use revolutionary slogans for making qt socks is a bit of a bore.
 

Spehsmonkey

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That it was switched to Free Bidet is a trip—as though they are actively trying to prove how casually and idiotically disrespectful they were being in the first place. Where did y’all see it?
 

hoodog

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Nevermind. Listened to the podcast and understood.
 
Last edited:

conqueror

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just received some OW monkey ciscos in the 'standard' 14oz denim. does anyone have any experience with shrinkage before i get them hemmed? i assume there will be little to none in length, but i've been stung with other labels before. might hold off and wear chunky cuffs until their first (cold) wash at home.
 

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