Every time I go to Fashion Week, I keep a little tally at every show, counting the women of color who appear on the runways. And at almost every show, my notepad has disappointingly few marks. Jezebel has also noticed the diversity void, noting that black women appeared on only 5% of the runways. Asian and Latina women didn't get much catwalk time, either.
I talked about the diversity issue with designer Wenlan Chia, whose Twinkle by Wenlan presentations are consistently among the most multicultural. She said that she doesn't cast models with any quotas in mind, that instead, she looks for models that reflect the world around her:
"We have an open casting, all the girls come in, and I choose the girl who I think will work the best with the clothes. Eventually I always end up using different girls from different backgrounds. I think that's what actual life is. I work with Asians, I work with black people, so this is our environment. It's very natural to me. So if I had a runway show that was all white, it's not very natural to me. It's not my real life."
It's not my real life, either, and judging by your thoughts on the issue, you'd also like to see a little more variety. Just look through this gallery of models; I know if I were casting for a fashion show or beauty campaign, I'd have plenty of gorgeous faces to work with. What do you think it would take for things to become more inclusive?
L'Wren Scott
Pepe Jeans
Tibi
I think that alot of the models do look the same. But it seems like every model I know of is from South America.
1I think they have come along way when it comes to diversity. But they still need to add more. And they really need to stop trying to make everyone look alike too.
2Eastern Europe, Canada and south America, with a few Sudanes models thrown in.
3Ok what about all the brazilians models. Giselle, Adriana, Alessandra. I know lots more from south america.
4As a woman of color and self proclaimed fashionista, I've definitely noticed our lack of representation on the run way. Unfortunately, I think that as far as we've come, there is still very much an ideal beauty image, and that the same "powers that be" that tell us size 0 is beautiful also have their preferential skin color.
5Golly, the whole dang world is racist, huh?
6It's no secret that beauty is defined a CERTAIN way in today's public image. I'm not going to waste my time with this fight but I know the truth and I believe that women of color are JUST AS GORGEOUS as the 'ideal beauty'. Sorry but to me intelligence, uniqueness, and passionate natures are far more appealing, beautiful AND sexy.
7models are human clothing racks. They're thin so the clothes will hang on them properly, and most of them are super pasty white because clothes stand out more on a white background. Some clothes stand out better on a really dark background which is why the few really successful runway models of african descent are generally really dark skinned- those are things I learned from my former roommate who was going to fashion school. Yeah, it sucks, but if you're going to go into an industry where everything is based on how you look, don't be suprised when you're judged by the way you look.
8I just want to add- please keep in mind that I'm not saying its a good thing and I'm not saying how it is everytime, that's just what I've been told, and what my roommate had been taught. you always pick the model that will look best in the clothes.
9I think that, fortunately, we are entering into a more global world where, as Wenlan said, the modern women of the world are more diversified. So it is only a matter of time before the catwalks and runways reflect that.
10I agree that the industry lacks diversity however as a mixed woman I find it equally wrong that black women in America rarely get a model that looks like them. I mean its great we have models from Africa and such but they do not look like an American Black woman! I would love to see a woman who looks like me or any of my fellow sisters on the runways!
11So what if the designer didnt want to look like "united colors of Benetton" if he or she wanted tall redheads, than there you go, its not discriminating. If Kimora Lee Simmons wanted all african american/asians for Baby Phat no one would blink an eye.
12It's the fashion industry.
13I also didn't see any women over 112 pounds.
Or any women under 5'9"!!!
Where's the image of Chanel Iman? She's African American + Asain (Korean). Interesting that she's left out here.
14The truth is that the world is an ufair place. So while the colored industry prim and pram as they ask the magazines and runways to get a little tan, why dont we (the colored fashion industry)(designers, fashion magazines and modeling agencies steered by people of color), use our own to achieve what's never been seen or heard...... Lets work with what we have to get to where we wanna get to.....maybe the other side of the game will catch up and come back home!!! but the bottom line is working towards our goals, to finally achieve them, in whatever way! Lets not make anything a black and white excuse, coz far as I am concerned, the bottom line is success!.....
15We also run things in this piece! Liz, Imani Int Model Management.
ok, that first model's neck is really messed up! i bet she gets tons of back aches.
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