Tribal Tokenism

Apart from high profile icons like, Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell, how often do we actually see racially diverse men and women in the fashion world today? Much-admired designer Rick Owens' throws 40 African-American "steppers" on stage and the world thinks a runway revolution has begun. But has it? Nora Rose McKay is a fashion enthusiast, with African roots, she gives a youthful perspective on the not so culturally expressive industry. Exploring how lack of cultural role models has lead to pressures on body image throughout generations, this blog discovers why the fashion industry refuses to significantly change its ways.

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Naomi Campbell photographed by Luigi & Iango for Lui Magazine, October 2015.

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http://twicsy.com/i/FTPEhg

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http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/15/black-models-matter-bag-new-york-fashion-week-ashley-b-chew_n_8138388.html

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Fashion Week Spring 2016: Diversity Report - theFashionSpot

We've analyzed hundreds of shows to find out how diverse Fashion Month really was for Spring 2016 in our latest runway diversity report.

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Designer Takafumi Tsurata Confronts Fashion’s Lack of Diversity at Tokyo Fashion Week

While cultural appropriation disguises itself season after season as the next must-have trend and critics follow suit by lamenting behind their computers over the severe lack of diversity on the runway, one designer is confronting …

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Why NYFW's Lack of Body Diversity Is Not OK

It's been just over five months since France passed a law banning excessively thin fashion models...

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Why black models are rarely in fashion | Hadley Freeman

Hadley Freeman: The women we see on the cover of magazines and striding down catwalks are still overwhelmingly white, but the fashion industry needs to wake up to the diversity of its customers

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diversity in fashion: where are we now? | read | i-D

When Carrie Hammer sent a model with Down's Syndrome down the catwalk at NYFW, she sparked a resurgence in the long-standing debate about diversity in fashion.

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Valentino Crafts a Beautiful Tribute to Tribal Africa on Its Spring 2016 Runway

These were some of the most beautiful clothes we saw this season.

I know it can be difficult for designers to show cultural themes throughout their collections without getting a backlash in this modern day is rather tricky. I'll admit it! But surely when the models in the catwalk show are more than 90% of a white ethnicity, something is wrong! This article praises the slight nod and wink Valentino has at African culture but many would disagree that this cultural awareness is only touching surface. Has Valentino given any consideration to African Culture at all? It's difficult to tell. The collection is beautiful but it is a minute token of what a culturally inspired collection could be and calling the collection "tribal" won't get Valentino any closer to reaching it. I guess the collection reflects the lack of diversity throughout the industry as a whole, a quick not and they move on.

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This African-themed fashion show was missing one thing - black models

Fashion designer Junya Watanabe took an army of male models decked out in African-themed clothes and accessories to his menswear catwalk show in Paris last week – the only thing was, they were all white.

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TAHUONIA RUBEL  @tahuonia

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Which fashion designers cast models of color?

Year after year, most designers hire white models.

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http://madamenoire.com/268058/a-fashion-show-doesnt-necessarily-need-to-represent-reality-top-designers-called-out-for-lack-of-black-runway-models/

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Serbian designer sends models down catwalk in black paint at LFW show

Serbian designer Marko Mitanovski showcased a jaw-dropping collection at London Fashion Week earlier today, sending the models down the catwalk covered from head-to-toe in black and white paint.

Reading this article I am unsure whether to view the designs as a tribute to racial diversity or simply just a mockery of it. Although it is an innovative and creative collection, it was obviously going to spark racial and diversity issues. Expressing that the designer, Marko Mitanovski had intended this collection was inspired by architecture and skeletons, I'm not going to think twice about questioning the connotations of ethnical contrasts presented throughout.

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Black. Beautiful. Barely seen

Louise France meets the woman leading the fight against racism on the catwalk

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Fashion industry insiders react to Bethann Hardison's letter alleging racism on runways

theGRIO REPORT - It seems every that Fashion Week, a spate of articles comes out pointing out the dearth of black models on the runway.