Racey Runways

Erdem SS2013

Erdem SS2013

Fashion is a glamorous, extravagant industry filled with beautiful things, but there are many dark sides to its beauty. Whether you believe it or not, the fashion design industry in all its power has the ability to make change. People follow trends from season to season; women and girls see fashion ads and models walking the runway and try to be those women. If Juicy Couture can stay in business by selling bedazzled sweatpants, then there is proof that fashion marketing can sell just about anything to anyone and still make millions.

So when I read these 2 articles last week,

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2013/09/06/bfc-responds-to-racism-allegations-made-by-the-diversity-coalition---bethann-hardison

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/20

13/09/10/naomi-campbell-iman--bethann-hardison-discuss-fashion-racism , it got me thinking; what sort of influence does the fashion industry have on the heavier, heartier topics such as racism?

Both the articles are about racism on the runways. 

The first article includes a letter issued by The British Fashion Council (BCF) to all London designers stating  “that all participating designers should recognize that London is one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world and should consider reflecting this demographic at their shows and presentations,". 

The second article has Iman, one of the most famous black supermodels alive, saying “to clarify this, no one is calling any of these designers racist. The act itself is racist. There were more black models working in the Seventies than there are in 2013.” When I read Iman’s comment, I was shocked to hear that there were more black models in the 70’s! 

Living in Vancouver, another multi-cultural city, race was not a day to day issue, I just grew up with all sorts of races and that was normal; there was no black or white. So, I have to admit when I see the runway shows I do not compare how many of the models are black, white, etc. I mostly just look at the clothes and possibly comment on how thin some of the models are.  

But I am not surprised that this is still a current issue in fashion or anywhere for that matter. It will be interesting to see how the next season’s runways are impacted by these discussions and if a change will be made?  Why not have every model of a different race? I would like to see that runway show, but perhaps I would be drawn to the beauty of all the different women instead of to the clothes?

What do you think? 

-Alex