Embracing Diversity in the Industry

March 2014

Natalie Spence

The lack of diversity in the fashion industry is not something new, but that is slowly changing.  Back in the day, you would hardly see coloured models get the opportunity to walk the runway. The two most recognizable black models you would see were Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell. Nevertheless, with the likes of Chanel Iman, Joan Smalls, Jourdan Dunn, to name a few, that’s changing, slowly but certainly. The prominence of Asian models on runways has also been on the rise. Times are definitely different; designers such as Burberry, Tom Ford, and Toronto’s own David Dixon, make a noticeable effort to have more diversity. It’s been said that fashion editors and designers are the ones at fault in this situation, which is true, but it also extends beyond that. It sometimes has a lot more to do with what’s relevant at the moment, what’s in demand and what will sell.  

Image Source: Toronto Sun