Fashion model icon Beverly Johnson made her feelings known concerning, the lack of black models represented through modeling agencies.
Johnson, was the first black model to grace the cover of Vogue Magazine. She did so in 1974 and says, ‘Today there is less representation for black models than in the 1970s.” She is a bit outdone with the fashion business for not doing more to show diversity. Johnson says this even though she appeared on over 500 magazine covers over a ten year run. “Having one black model, is not good enough.” she said.
Johnson has not attended a fashion show in years and opted out for 2014 as well. In turn, she and model colleague and peer Bethann Hardison share the same sentiments for sitting out what they call an array of shows lacking diversity.
Johnson says she finds the lack of diversity, ‘Disrespectful to African-Americans,’ who bring talent and style to the fashion industry through designs and business savvy.
Hardison, does her homework before speaking, she says she counts the number of models of color participating in shows and checks the designers who continuously white wash shows.
At a Calvin Klein show in 2013, there were no models representing women of color. The labels creative director,Francisco Costa, had addressed the challenge of having a diverse runway: “You can only find a handful of top-level, professionally trained models of color at a particular level out there.’
Johnson and Hardison call foul on this notion. They insist that there are plenty of qualified models of color looking for work.
Former Essence editor and fashion journalist Constance White says, ‘It’s not just a model issue, “Fashion can do better in terms of diversity at all different levels.” White concludes,”Fashion reflects the society as a whole and that means more than models, fashion is an institution.”
Former models and editors who are advocates of changing the color of runways to reflect more of society look at the good that comes from businesses like Macy’s who host a Black History Month Fashion Show. This type of venue is where you will see black models in fabulous fashions. The question though is why is this type of show not more mainstream? There are design students who sketch one of a kind fashions daily as part of their training. When and where is their work seen? Until there is more diversity the questions will remain. Speaking out makes a difference. Kudos to Johnson, Hardison, and White for making noise and backing it up with facts.
Our Black is indeed, beautiful and influential.
