Italian Vogue creates a black beauty issue

Posted Apr 28th 2008 at 4:02PM by Tiffany Neal (Subscribe to Tiffany Neal's posts)

As we've repeatedly documented on this site, their is a clear lack of diversity in the fashion industry. All of the runways, editorials, advertisements, and fashion covers have been completely white-washed for the past eight years now.

It's gotten so bad that former model agency owner Bethann Hardison -- who use to rep supermodels Tyson Beckford and Naomi Campbell -- had to convene two summits to discuss the refusal of some of fashion's most powerful to embrace black beauty. CFDA president Diane Von Furstenberg even sent out a letter prior to fashion week urging designers to incorporate models of all ethnicities onto their catwalks.

However, after the fall '08 fashion season concluded, the runways were as bland as ever.

But just when we thought all was lost, it seems as though somebody has finally gain some semblance of a conscience.

Last week, rumors began to fly on fashion sites alike that Italian Vogue was cooking up an epic issue that would feature only black models and that famed photographer Steven Meisel would be lensing all of its contents.

And yesterday, Franca Sozzani, the editor-in-chief of Italian Vogue confirmed the extraordinary news: "We are using a lot of black models, like Iman, not only the models of today – a lot of different girls." As for why she is doing this, Sozzani continues: "Because nobody is using black girls. I see so many beautiful girls and they were complaining that they are not used enough."

In addition, all of the other Vogues will be incorporating not only black models, but other under represented minority groups in their magazines much more than usual over the next few months. We'll reserve our applause until we start seeing some of this "diversity" in our favorite US publications, but it's nice to know people are finally starting to open their eyes.

[via The Independent]

Tags: bethann hardison, BethannHardison, black beauty, BlackBeauty, fashion, franca sozani, FrancaSozani, italian vogue, ItalianVogue, magazines, naomi campbell, NaomiCampbell, steven meisel, StevenMeisel, tyson beckford, TysonBeckford, vogue

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Danielle 4-28-2008 @ 7:35PM

It would also be a great thing if they featured black only skin care product lines or beauty products in their issue. But this is a good step Tyra recently talked about having more black models on her show and how they are going unnoticed in the industry.
fashion and beauty tips
http://www.imageandstylenews.com

embel 6-01-2008 @ 7:42AM

This is not a black and white world. Get over yourselves.Lets not forget the red, the yellow, and the rainbow mixes.

Diana Diixon 6-19-2008 @ 3:08PM

The lack of diversity in the fashion industry requires that women of all colors, black, brown, and yellow, are included in the fashion.

Beauty is beauty, irrespective of the skin color.

florence 6-27-2008 @ 9:42AM

i am soo proud of vogue to take such a big jump. i hope it can bring bigger and better things for the future of models of ethnic origin.

Errol Sawyer 6-29-2008 @ 5:55AM

As an African-American photographer who has worked for American Vogue, French Elle, et al. WHY are there NOT MORE photographers of color, ie., African-American, African, Indian, et al. under contract at Conde Nast Publications, Hearst, et al. rather than the usual procession of familiar names such as Steven Meisel, Demarchelier, Nick Knight (who would probably agree), Peter Lindbergh(Sp?) and countless others derived from the SAME Caucasian pool of soul-less non-talents?

Letters of protest should be directed at transnational conglomerates like L'Oreal, Proctor&Gamble et al. to exert PRESSURE upon the abovementioned publications who DEPEND on their ADVERTISING revenue.

Revenue and profits DERIVED from MINORITY communities in the USA and Africa, Asia, etcetera!

Errol Sawyer (portrait, beauty)

Errol Sawyer 7-02-2008 @ 3:24PM

Bethann Hardison's Black Model Coalition is little more than a disappointing joke.

Question: what have they accomplished after more than a decade and a half since their inception?

No, the problem of racism in the fashion and beauty industries will NEVER be resolved to the benefit of minority communities unless it is seen and addressed as part of the broader problem of systemic racial discrimination globally.

Power.
Domination.
Control.

The Black Model Coalition can discuss the problem from here in to eternity and trust they will not have advanced one fraction of one percent without petitioning the Black community to BOYCOTT ALL corporations which discriminate against ALL minority contractors and subcontractors, period.

Anything else is simply mind rot.

efsawyer

Sam 7-08-2008 @ 3:21PM

I'm moving to Italy!

Vegeta 7-11-2008 @ 7:51PM

@ embel.

The world is black and white. The reason they don't mention Chinese or Indian people is as a whole when it comes to public view, whether it be politics, sports or entertainment you simply do not get involved.

As for all the other comments about boycott etc. The only way we will ever have fair "usage" of models is if more black people start there own Magazines (with style might i add). Thats the ONLY way

Vegeta 7-11-2008 @ 7:52PM

Errol Sawyer 7-13-2008 @ 5:31PM

RE Vegeta
"The only way we will ever have fair "usage" of models is if more black people start there own Magazines (with style might i add). Thats the ONLY way"

I disagree for the following reasons:
1) The problem should and can be corrected via diversification not more segregation!
2) In order to undermine the pillars of institutional racism we must examine its structure and initiate the process of targeted erosion where it is most vulnerable, ie, market share and thereby profits.
3) According to not too recent articles in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, minority communities are the only areas of real growth for the health and beauty industry; therefore when minority women refuse to purchase chemicals manufactured by transnationals like Avon, L'Oreal, Proctor&Gamble, by definition, they empower themselves because each of the above are addicted to profits in order to satisfy their share holders otherwise projections aren't met and the value of stock shares decline, etcetera.
4) Electronic petitions first circulated at the multitude blogs such as Style Dash, X numbers of signatures from concerned if not irate consumers which would be forwarded to the CEOs of the abovementioned corporations and sit back and appreciate the fallout.
5) Magazines which survive on advertising revenue for cosmetic companies would be obliged to alter their perceptions of black, brown, yellow, hispanic power, period.

Mind you, this is not rocket science, but, simply the application of common sense which by definition is accessible to anyone willing to cast their vote for HOPE.

efsawyer

efsawyer

Nicole 7-17-2008 @ 7:02AM

Apart from this issue being labelled the "BLACK ISSUE" its no different from a regular edition. How many times has Naomi Campbell graced the covers of Vogue and dominated the catwalk. First of all the magazine is significantly more expensive (£6.80) in comparison to the regular Vogue. Its Vogue Italia therefore its in ITALIAN. Vogue were claiming that it would be the worst selling edition ever so black people in an act of support went out and got a copy or 3! The so-called black issue- as i wrongly assumed- was not filled from cover to cover with black models but instead a few articles here and there (towards the back) and pictures here and there and i couldn't help but wonder what all the fuss is about. The issue with black models not being used enough is not going to disappear overnight because of this issue. Just another drop in the ocean as far as i'm concerned. The thing with some of us is we cry about wanting change so much but yet we sit on our backside and wait for the next guy to do something

Michael 7-20-2008 @ 1:58AM

Black models will never see the light until Blacks become producer of products rather than blind sheep following consumers. We will buy anything even if they don't appreciate our business. Lets create competitive products and compete. If we use Black models in the process and outsell.....guess what happens......all others will follow suit. It's not vogue or any magazine that has the power. Its the makers of the products who place the ads in them who has the power. If gucci uses a black girl in its ad....guess what.....if that ad is in vogue....guess what......Magazines are only as power as the businesses that patronize them for advertisements and the consumer who buys them. We must remember also that the power of an image can be powerful and threatening to those who fear seeing black portrayed as something other than what racists are comfortable with seeing.