Italian Vogue shows black models only
Italian Vogue has used only black models for the July issue of the magazine, in a statement against discrimination in the fashion world.
More than 100 pages of the issue, including the cover, will feature images of black women taken by the acclaimed New York based photographer Steven Meisel.
The pictures will be accompanied by articles on successful black women in arts and entertainment.
The move is in reaction to recent anger over the reluctance of fashion magazines to feature black models on their covers. Many industry insiders claim black girls are not used because they just "do not sell".
Leading black figures, including models, designers and agents, have now formed a protest group in New York to highlight the problem of racism in the industry.
Italian Vogue's editor, Franca Sozzani, said her decision was influenced by the New York group, as well as by Barack Obama's success in the US presidential primaries.
Meisel photographed several of the black fashion world's biggest names for the issue, including Naomi Campbell, Iman, Tyra Banks, Liya Kebede, Jourdan Dunn, Alek Wek and Pat Cleveland.
Meisel said: "I thought, it's ridiculous, this discrimination. It's so crazy to live in such a narrow, narrow place. Age, weight, sexuality, race - every kind of prejudice.
"I have asked my advertising clients so many times, 'Can we use a black girl?' They say no."
Naomi Campbell has also spoken out several times on her concern that black models are "sidelined" by the major modelling agencies.
Italian Vogue's all-black issue is unlikely to be emulated by its US sister magazine, but American Vogue is planning to run an article about the lack of black models.
1 comment:
I am so excited that you blogged about this!!! For me personally, this is a huge issue. My family is directly affected by this dilemma on so many levels. I hope with the sales of this magazine that they realize that all faces no matter what the race of the model will sell. I vote for the asian models next to do an all encompassed mag. They are the least represented.
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