Is the Fashion Industry Racist?

Live from the New York Library- Individuals who impact the fashion industry gathered to talk about the issue of black faces being absent from fashion. Listen in...

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[Applebaum]

I dont think white people that own and control the fashion industry care enough to ever do anything about it. They like things the way they are. White supremacy is alive and well

[brightlights456X]

To sebstofoso,

"if there was money to be had by putting more black models out there, they would."

Yeah you're right. I mean black women in the States only spend $30 billion a year on fashion. Who needs those small pennies......right????

[strawberriesncandii]

@Rosalila247 That's a shame. :(

[Rosalila247]

@strawberriesncandii yes and its sad because people are afraid to speak out. when we do speak out, we're just complaining. but this is a real issue. .and it's not going away anytime soon. absolutely nothing has changed from conferences such as this. .they're not doing enough. designers will never open or close a show with a black model, unless she's a big name. i've been in a few shows for a columbian designer and he always uses the same blonde girl to open and close all his shows.

[cocoblack]

@ardneklolful Ralph Lauren and tommy Hilfiger Both use black models. Males ones forsure. Not a close to enough but they do use them.

[strawberriesncandii]

@Rosalila247 That's horrible. These designers especially Karl have the nerve to say that the fashion world is not racist when it is.

[Rosalila247]

@strawberriesncandii exactly. in all reality, modeling agencies need to hang up a sign saying 'whites only'. of course that wouldn't be politically correct. it PISSES me off every time I go to an open call or casting and I see average looking white girls being selected. black girls have to be PERFECT in order to get in. most clients specifically tell the agencies not to send them black girls, and that is why so few are represented.

[ardneklolful]

Juicy Couture Ralph Lauren Tommy Hilfiger and Hollister dont use black models

[strawberriesncandii]

@Rosalila247 I know right. I look at Chanel fashion shows and Karl Lagerfeld doesn't use black models and even Yves Saint Laurent is cutting black models out and YSL loved black models and used them when he was alive. It's a damn shame.

[Rosalila247]

@strawberriesncandii and those are all the big names. .lets not forget the thousands of models that walk the runways. .out of a thousand only 4 might be black. they fool the general public into thinking they aren't racist with these token black models. .but they are the exceptions and not the rule. go to any modeling agency in NYC and out of a hundred models, only four will be black, and they'll be just happy with that. they allow much more diversity when it comes to white models.

[strawberriesncandii]

It's sad because I can't list all the European models out there but I can name a handful of black models. Jordane Dunn, Alec Wek, Iman, Tyra Banks, Noemi Lenoir, Naomi Campbell, Chanel Iman...SMH