Is The Fashion Industry Really Addressing Its Race Problem?

New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2014 - Ralph Lauren - RunwayPhoto: SIPA/WENN 

Some would argue that this has been a landmark year for people of color in many ways. From the unmitigated levels of assault that black and brown people face when confronted by police to the increased number of black faces during the publishing industry’s hottest month — there can be said that an increased focus on black lives has mattered.

Even still, the fashion industry at large, and the majority of its franchise players, are disproportionately white, affluent individuals. According to Stylite, less than 3 percent of designers whom participate in the past four New York Fashion Weeks are African or African American. Add to that, the point that 80 percent of the models walking runways are white and you have the makings of a discussion that shall continue even after this year comes to a close.

“Project Runway” judge Nina Garcia participated in a chat with The Huffington Post wherein she explains her hope in the progress that’s been made already. “I think the industry’s already addressing those points of view,” she says in the streamed conversation. “I think there’s not enough African American girls on the runway — that is a huge problem. There’s not enough African American girls on the covers. But that is changing, and really the change has started, so I feel very optimistic.”

Garcia isn’t far off from the mark with situations happening that would suggest that change is apparent. Teen Vogue‘s August cover had three models of color, while model Nykhor Paul’s frustrations with the industry will lead to continued improvements. Liya Kebede was the first model of color to grace Vogue Paris in five years. Amandla Stenberg managed to check everyone with the last name Kardashian or Jenner about appropriating black culture, while Ebony challenged the rest by saying that that’s all people love about blacks are the culture.

For what it is worth, the lack of diversity does extend to other areas. From sizes to sexual preference to gender, there are multiple issues that one can lobby at those in the fashion world. But let’s be clear: people of color command handfuls of trillions of dollars in capital. This makes sense to anyone with a business sentiment, yet people of color and their bodies and brilliance aren’t receiving enough visibility.

“If you think of it, if you came from outer space and looked at a magazine, you’d be like, ‘Everyone is so skinny in the fashion business and everybody on Earth is so tiny!’” Garcia remarked. “That is not the reality. We all have different shapes and different sizes.” It has been beyond time for the old guards and oligarchs who hold these outdated traditions to go the way of the Dodo bird. People of color aside, this upcoming NYFW alone we will witness the first Down syndrome model strutting her stuff on the catwalk and that, along with the recent successes for model Winnie Harlow, is a strong sign for the future of the fashion industry.

“We need to make everybody aware,” she added. “We need more. In all platforms.” A true sentiment indeed.

[via Huffington Post]

The post Is The Fashion Industry Really Addressing Its Race Problem? appeared first on StyleBlazer.

About Author /

Connecting The World One Post At A Time. Dope Graphic Designer and Website Developer. Photoshop , FCP X , Logic , FL Studio , HTML , CSS , PHP some of my dope things i do :).

Start typing and press Enter to search