Skip to main content

Are There Enough Black Models at Fashion Week?

In September 2013 supermodels Iman and Naomi Campbell and former model agent Bethann Hardison wrote to the major fashion councils of New York, London, Milan and Paris about the lack of racial diversity in the fashion industry and specifically on Fashion Week runways.

"The absence of people of color on the runways and photography reinforces to our young girls that they're not people enough, that they're not acceptable enough," Iman told CNN.

"The diversity that we live in, the world that we live in, is not what is shown on the runway. That to me  is the concern. It's bigger issue at large than just about runway and models."

A model walks the runway at the Georgine
fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2014
Photo by Arun Nevader/Getty Images

Amen to that, Iman.  

A shamefully self-absorbed essay recently published in XOJane was a glaring example of how black women in particular are often judged and marginalized in our society. The essay was written by a self-described "skinny white girl" who became distraught after a "fairly heavyset black woman" came to a yoga class she regularly attends. For some reason, that experience was disturbing and prompted this clueless white woman to interpret, without saying a word to her, how the black woman felt about her body, her ability to do yoga and her whole existence, really, in comparison to her own perceived perfection. I won't dignify the original piece with a link back, but here's a spot on response from a fellow black female writer.

Perhaps I've been naive, but I expect people to be decent and kind and at the very least respectful of other people's differences, and I'm always shocked and angered when prejudice and racism rears its ugly head. But now that my blinders are off, I don't like what I see.

So did the fashion industry get the memo since last season and hire more black models to walk the runway?  From the daily runway photos, there appear to be more images of gorgeous black models. So perhaps that signals progress?

Here are some of the stunning models working Fashion Week Fall 2014.

A model poses at the Czar By Cesar Galindo fashion presentation during
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2014
Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images

A model at Desigual fashion show during
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2014.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

A model walks the runway at the Herve Leger By Max Azria
fashion show during Mercedes-Benz
Fashion Week Fall 2014
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

A model at the Monique Lhuillier fashion show during
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2014.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Conway Discount Clothing Chain Closing in New York City

(Tracy E. Hopkins) It's the end of a budget shopping era. Conway discount stores are closing in New York City . As of this weekend, a sign on the sole Herald Square location (34th Street btwn 7th and 8th Ave) says the store will close in "7 Days." Before I relocated to the Big Apple, I was introduced to the discount chain while on a bus trip from Baltimore.  I recall the first time I saw Conway's signature pink bags carried by hurried shoppers in midtown. And Miss Foster, the trip organizer and a bargain hunter from way back, took me to the store for the first time. Conway store in the Fulton Mall./Tracy E. Hopkins When I moved here in 1994, my love affair with Conway continued.  I furnished my first apartment with discount knick-knacks and home goods from the store.  And much to my chagrin, in hindsight, I curated most of my wardrobe for my first full-time job from the long-shuttered 42nd Street and Third Avenue store. One regretful ensemble: Lime green and

Memorial Day Summer Swimsuits in the Amazon.com Swim Shop!

Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner.   Do you have your new summer swimsuit yet?  If not, Everything She Wants recommends checking out Amazon.com's  Amazon Swim Shop . Me at the Amazon Swim Shop preview. The online shop is stocked year-round with trendy and timeless swimsuit styles, cover ups and swim accessories from your favorite brands. While I'm usually partial to the figure-flattering tankini, at a press preview for the Amazon Swim Shop, I noticed that the often unforgiving one-piece suit has made a compelling comeback. Thanks to a generous gift card from Amazon I took a chance and ordered a Calvin Klein one-piece in a pretty nude/coral "Sand" color, along with several bohemian tunics. Now here's your turn.    One lucky reader will receive a promo code for $100 to spend at the Amazon Swim Shop (qualifying items must be sold and shipped directly by Amazon and not a third-party seller). Here's how you can win ( you must comp

DanceAfrica 2024 Returns to Brooklyn Academy of Music

The DanceAfrica Bazaar is one of my favorite annual street fairs. I love to watch folks show up and show out in their flyest Afrocentric garb and to shop for handmade beaded bracelets and earrings from the African vendors.  And when I'm fortunate enough to snag a ticket as I did this year courtesy of BAM, I enjoy watching the kinetic African dancers (this time the country featured is Cameroon) during the spirited and spirit-filled DanceAfrica performance at the Howard Gilman Opera House.   (Photos courtesy of BAM/Tony Turner) If you want to join in the fun, here's the weekend lineup that's truly for the culture. DanceAfrica 2024:  The Origin of Communities / A Calabash of Cultures Artistic Director Abdel R. Salaam DanceAfrica Spirit Walkers, Women Of The Calabash, The Billie's Youth Arts Academy Dance Ensemble, and Siren – Protectors of The Rainforest Fri, May 24 at 7:30pm; Sat, May 25 at 2pm & 7pm; Sun, May 26 at 3pm BAM Howard Gilman Opera House   (Peter Jay Sharp