Because so many of us were unable to attend the glamorous days of New York City Fashion Week, we instead waited impatiently for our favorite gossip sites to upload the future retail favorites for Spring 2009. It is always an exciting to see the beautiful pieces designers concoct to inspire us, but it is an even greater joy to see whom they have each selected to model their designs down the runway.
The process of picking models is not frequently highlighted in our daily quick-fix blogs and news blurbs. Luckily, shows like Top Model and even Project Runway give us a glimpse into the stress, hard work, and satisfaction of booking a spot with a high-profile designer. It is, as portrayed to us on television, one of the most crucial times for a model to get her face recognized in the world of fashion, while displaying couture pieces by innovators such as Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, Diane Von Furstenberg, and Tracy Reese, to name a few. Lately, the issue of ethnic diversity in fashion has become a hot topic throughout the world.
What truly sparked this topic on the runway was Italian Vogue's decision to dedicate an issue to featuring only black models in its fashion spreads. Franca Sozzani, editor-in-chief of the magazine, discussed the need for ethnic representation in fashion: "Nobody is using black girls. I see so many beautiful girls, and they were complaining that they are not used enough." In addition to placing the spotlight on black models, the magazine also shot stunning pictures of models who ranged in body types, providing readers with an even greater portrait of diversity and beauty. The July issue of Italian Vogue was such a success, it was reprinted. It was a stepping stone, which not only raised awareness in the fashion industry but also sparked public awareness of diversity in the modeling world.
Legendary model and agent Bethanny Hardison is someone pushing the industry to take into consideration showing all shades and backgrounds in runway shows. For the second year in a row, Hardison has led a discussion called "Race on the Runway," which has helped shed light on the industry for having all-white models. Hardison began this event after Andre Leon Talley and Naomi Campbell repeatedly called to encourage her to speak about this matter. She was thrilled to see vast improvement this year with both old and new designers, but still feels there is a lot of work to be done. Diane Von Furstenberg is a designer who should be noted for encouraging casting directors, agencies, and her contemporaries to include not only women of different ethnicities, but also of different body types. Furstenberg strives to give the public a chance to see diversity at its finest and fiercest.
The close of New York Fashion Week has set a new bar for diversity in fashion. As the London tents open, many hope to see the influence of diversity in NYC have an effect on the catwalk in London. Von Furstenberg knows the strong impact that could result from the industry focusing on this matter, and says, "Together we can influence the vision of beauty, so women can be celebrated no matter their size or skin color."
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