Marc Jacobs has been called out for sending white models down the runway at his New York Fashion Week show with their hair in faux dreadlocks, with Twitter users accusing him of cultural appropriation.

Models including Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Taylor Hill walked in the show, their hair styled in pastel-coloured wool dreadlocks, which was said to be inspired by rave culture and Harajuku.

“Dear @marcjacobs, Dreadlocks are a part of black culture, something you have no business trying to sell or appropriate. Do better, Maia,” wrote one tweeter.

And things only got worse for the designer when he tried to explain himself in an Instagram comment. “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,” wrote Marc.

“I respect and am inspired by people and how they look. I don’t see color or race- I see people. I’m sorry to read that so many people are so narrow minded… Love is the answer. Appreciation of all and inspiration from anywhere is a beautiful thing. Think about it”.

After reading the comment, people started declaring Marc Jacobs “cancelled”.

Show hair stylist Guido Palau worked with an Etsy seller, @DreadsByJena, who has been hand-dyeing and hand-rolling wool-dyed hair for a year, after learning how to do the technique on the internet. Together with guidance from Marc Jacobs, they created the locs in 300 different colours to match his SS17 collection, with 55 dreads used on every model.

Asked about the politics of giving white models dreads, Guido told The Cut, “I don’t really think about that. I take inspiration from every culture. Style comes from clashing things. It’s always been there — if you’re creative, if you make food, music, and fashion, whatever, you’re inspired by everything. It’s not homogeneous. Different cultures mix all the time. You see it on the street. People don’t dress head-to-toe in just one way.”

Marc Jacobs previously came under fire for having his models wear Bantu knots in their hair for his Spring 2015 Marc By Marc Jacobs show.