Urban Outfitters pulls Navajo name from collection

Urban Outfitters has pulled the word "Navajo" from its website in the wake of criticism from the Native American community, The Associated Press reports.

The clothing chain has removed the word from numerous product names online

As recently as last week, Urban Outfitters used "Navajo" in more than 20 product names on its website. Two items in particular stirred up controversy: the "Navajo Hipster Panty" and the "Navajo Print Fabric Wrapped Flask."

Earlier this year, the Navajo Nation, which holds the "Navajo" trademark when used in relation clothing, footwear, online retail sales and textiles, sent a cease and desist letter to Urban Outfitters.

Bloggers — including Native Appropriations — called the products disrespectful. It said a search for "Cherokee" on the Urban Outfitters website yielded 1 result; while a search for "Tribal" yielded 15; a search for "Native" 10; "Indian" 2; and Navajo 24.

A member of the Santee Sioux nation, Sasha Houston Brown, wrote an "Open Letter to Urban Outfitters on Columbus Day," printed on the Indian Country website, rallying bloggers to the cause and attracting mainstream media attention.

Urban Outfitters spokesman Ed Looram confirmed to the AP Wednesday that the clothing chain received a cease-and-desist letter from the Navajo tribe a week ago. 

The products now are described on the store's site as "printed" instead of "Navajo."

The Navajo Justice Department had said it hoped Urban Outfitters would adopt another name.

The Phoenix New Times asked the opinion of an expert at the Heard Museum in downtown Phoenix.

Andrea Hanley, director of the Berlin Gallery reportedly said: "There's so many other things that [Urban Outfitters] could have done that would have been so much more interesting."

She reportedly added: "Native artists are doing diverse, interesting, and innovative work all over the country, Hanley tells us. "Why do you have to go to this cheap kind of version? Why wouldn't we be able to collaborate with really great, contemporary Indian artists?"