Disclaimer: let’s just call this a rant and rants are not always coherent...as you were :)
As a fashion observer, over the last year or so I have had a topic on my mind. To be honest I didn’t want to voice it because I felt maybe I was being unfair and presumptious in my judgement. But in light of the latest Burberry revelations and the Tommy Hilfiger thing, this issue came back into my mind. I did a post on it once on the blog but I think I may have deleted it....anywho
What’s my issue?....Vogue Italia.
When Vogue Italia decided to do the ‘All Black Issue’ I was one of the people who registered to receieve a copy, I didn’t get one, no biggie though. Fast forward a couple of weeks/months (don't quite remember) and the launch of vogueblack on the vogue italia website.
When I saw this I was sooooo upset! I couldn’t help but see it as
segregation. Why do we need a separate site for black people who love fashion,
aside from the colour of our skin we are no different from white, asian, Hispanic, oriental people who like fashion. The fact that black creatives were put on a separate
section immediately made me question ‘so are they not good enough for the main site?’
I didn’t see this website as positively celebrating black people I saw it as a way of appeasing black people. Don’t get me wrong I think it’s always good when people are given a platform to showcase their skills and talents. But the way this was done doesn’t sit well in my spirit. Other little things about the site I do not like is that they do a fashion week street style just featuring black people, I went and checked on the main site to see if these people were there also...shock shock horror..they weren’t, seriously?!!! Style is style, you either got it or you don’t! If they are good enough for the black section they should be good enough for your main section.
I didn’t see this website as positively celebrating black people I saw it as a way of appeasing black people. Don’t get me wrong I think it’s always good when people are given a platform to showcase their skills and talents. But the way this was done doesn’t sit well in my spirit. Other little things about the site I do not like is that they do a fashion week street style just featuring black people, I went and checked on the main site to see if these people were there also...shock shock horror..they weren’t, seriously?!!! Style is style, you either got it or you don’t! If they are good enough for the black section they should be good enough for your main section.
I get it, vogue was responding to the cry for
diversity within the fashion industry (which also saw the launch of voguecurvy) but separation is not diversity. You can’t say we are being diverse, but
all the black people you stay in that corner and all the ‘plus size’ people you
go in that corner, it makes no sense.
I’m tired of the way fashion uses black people and black culture as if it’s a trend...WE ARE NOT A TREND!!!
*drops mic and exits stage right*
4 comments:
To a certain extent, I feel we have regresseda couple of decades when it comes to acceptance, cultural differences, diversity - whatever term you want to use. I've been working for an organisation that claims to be the champion of diversity, but shows little evidence of it. And the recent complaints to the IPCC goes to show that as a society, we really do not accept diversity. The problem remains the same as it ever was - ignorance.
I agree completely with your comment! thanks for stopping by!
Separation is not diversity!Real talk.It is just alienating.It is totally legitimate to feel this way!
Thank you, I'm glad others can see where I'm coming from. :)
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