By Michalina Cmoch
The fashion industry has always been recognized as closed to change, setting up its own strict standards and creating visions of beauty which have rarely fluctuated. As a result, there have been numerous protests as well as other actions against promoting an ideal that either diminishes or completely eliminates diversity.
One of the biggest issues that the fashion industry has been struggling with for years is the lack of people of colour on catwalks and fashion magazine covers, as well as in high positions in the industry. In the 21st century, the world is finally saying STOP! to discrimination and racism in the fashion industry.
There are more and more people of colour achieving success in fashion, proving that diversity is triumphing. In December 2015, a model of colour, Maria Borges, walked the Victoria’s Secret annual fashion show for the third time in her career – but the first time she was allowed to wear her natural hair on the runway.
A few days before the fashion show, she shared the good news with her Twitter followers. “Are you ready for the 2015 @VictoriaSecret fashion show? I’ll be rocking my Afro hair this year for THE show!” she Tweeted.
In 2016, Winnie Harlow, a model with the skin condition vitiligo, which causes parts of the skin to lose its pigment, was chosen as one of BBC’s 100 Women, considered top “innovators and change-makers. Her appearance gave hope to those afraid of being different, especially as she has appeared on the covers of world’s best fashion magazines, including Vogue.
In April 2017, stylist Edward Enninful became the editor-in-chief of British Vogue, not only as the first man but also as the first person of colour in history to hold this prestigious position.
All these examples prove that the fashion industry is becoming open to change. Diversity is triumphing, and everyone can achieve success in the industry, no matter what your nationality, skin colour or religion. There is still more to do – the revolution is coming!
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