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

Reconciliation Week

Imagine: more than 150 000 children kidnapped from their families; taken kilometers from their homes and incarcerated in cement buildings, infested with diseases and physical and sexual abuse; being taught that they, and their families, were not human.

It sounds like a Saw movie, but this was the reality for 80% of Aboriginal children in Canada, who were coerced into the Canadian Residential School System, from as early as Canada’s creation in 1867 until the last residential school closed in 1998.

Assimilation was the backbone of the Residential School System. It was purposely designed to “kill the Indian to save the man”; as if to be human you could not be Aboriginal. These intentions were public and clear: “all the Indian there is in the race should be dead”. This propaganda has been argued no different than that of the Third Reich.

The sexual and physical violence that plagued the Canadian Residential School System is perhaps the most well-known consequence of the Residential School System. The effects of this abuse still reverberate throughout the Aboriginal community. Over the past couple of months, new atrocities have come to our attention. Aboriginal students of the system were purposely subjected to experiments on the effects of withholding nutrition. These examples are only a snapshot of the horrific treatments afflicted on Aboriginal children.

In 2007, former residential school students won a class action suit against the federal government. It forced the feds to officially recognize the scars of the residential school system. During the investigation, it became evident that there needed to be a forum for sharing common experiences and for a shared healing journey, between Canadian Aboriginal community members and between Canadians of European descent.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was initiated as the platform for this communication. It was also designed to bring public awareness to the issues and to create a “comprehensive historical record” about Canada’s darkest chapter. It is held in various communities around Canada throughout the year.

This week (September 16-22) Vancouver has officially declared “Reconciliation Week”. The week will begin with lighting the Fire of Reconciliation at Ambleside Beach, followed by an All Nations Canoe Gathering. The rest of the week will be dedicated to the sharing and learning of survivors’ stories. The week concludes with a Walk for Reconciliation, introduced by key-note speaker, Dr. Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in the 50^th year since the delivery of his “I have a dream” speech.

I could write 10 000 words about Residential Schools (and I have… I wrote my thesis on them…), but I think that I will leave the stories of history, hurt and healing up to you to discover. As a Canadian of European descent, it is easy to sit back on my privilege and chalk it all up to “good intentions” and stereotypes. Perhaps it is a bit of guilt, but I am so tired of hearing “they should get over it”. When we consider the residual effects that still plague our society today, like the “Highway of Tears”, the “Stolen Sisters”, and the disproportional high rates of incarceration, we know that the targeted racism and hatred is not forgotten and not something “to get over”.

I hope that everyone takes advantage of the opportunities that Reconciliation Week offers. For all Canadians to move towards forgiveness and inclusivity, we need education and understanding. As Martin Luther King Jr. said: “We cannot walk alone. And as we walk we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead”. This is a journey we need to take together.

- Lisa

NY Fashion Week

With NY fashion week wrapping up and London following next week, everyone is looking for next spring’s hot trends. As Kim explained in a recent post things move pretty fast in the fashion industry, but with weather like we have had this past week, it feels right to be checking out next year’s hot grabs!

Some of my favourite designers were showing at the S/S 2014 New York Fashion Week so I definitely checked it out…online…unfortunately.

Here are some of my faves:

Oscar De La Renta is a master mind when it comes to fitting the woman figure, so it came to no surprise when his beautiful dresses filled the runway with romance and elegance.

Chloe is another label I love. I think it is the simplicity and the feeling of comfort I get when I look at the collection, even though everything is in actuality very intricate and beautiful.
I don't think I would wear this jacket in the spring or summer if it is anything like our recent year's but I would buy it just so I could have it for fall or per chance there was a cool enough day for it!


Marc by Marc Jacobs has this amazing print for S/S 2014 that completely caught my eye and although I do not think it will look good on me, if I had the money, I would damn well try!

And finally, for a touch of nationalism and because they are awesome,  DSquared. 

I actually want to start looking for Safari’s to go on, or at the very least start planning a series of Vancouver walks through our various parks just so I can rock this look! Or maybe just go up north with Kim and try hunting. LOL Either way I WILL look kick ass.

I know fall is here (even though this week you wouldn't know it) and I LOVE fall clothes, but checking out these collections has already made me excited for next year. 

-Alex