Marc Jacobs Responds to Last Year's Appropriation Accusations: 'I've Been Insensitive'

In a new interview with InStyle, Marc Jacobs has responded to critiques of his spring '17 show, where he featured white models in dreadlocks. At the time, Jacobs had dismissed arguments over Instagram, saying:

"All who cry 'cultural appropriation' or whatever nonsense about any race or skin color wearing their hair in any particular style or manner -- funny how you don't criticize women of color for straightening their hair. I respect and am inspired by people and how they look. I don't see color or race -- I see people."

His first retort only fueled critics' accusations, and was followed up with something slightly more delicate, apologizing for his "lack of sensitivity unintentionally expressed by my brevity," adding "Of course I do 'see' color, but I DO NOT discriminate. THAT IS A FACT!"

Now, a year later, it appears the issue is still on the celebrity designer's mind. Speaking to InStyle, he's said,

"What I learned from that whole thing, what caused me to pause after it died down a little bit, was that maybe I just don't have the language for this, or maybe I've been insensitive because I operate so inside my little bubble of fashion."

Jacobs poses for InStyle's September issue alongside hip-hop legends dressed in his 2017 "Respect" collection. Biz Markie, Kurtis Blow and Salt-N-Pepa appear, as well as LL Cool J, who supports Jacobs' use of spring '17 dreadlocks.

"There seems to be this strange feeling that you can be whoever you want as long as it's 'yours,' which seems very counter to the idea of cross-pollination, acceptance, and equality, he says. "Now you can't go to a music festival with feathers in your hair because it's cultural appropriation."