Racial Diversity In Modeling

[iluvjeisa]

The Prada campaign from 1994, as mentioned before, scanned by OMIFAN9 and featuring Naomi. As classy and elegant as could be.

 

[Djavanjmiles]

^ I forgot about those. I wish they would of made her more prettier.

 

[fashionista-ta]

I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume it's simply a coincidence. Plus, maybe some designers just like using girls who all look similar, which is not really racist.

Well, Prada uses Daria, right? And she doesn't look like anyone else.

 

[Mr. Fabulous]

Versace doesn't cast any black models either. Has she casted them before? But then again, Halle did do the S/S 06 Ads, but for the runway its like mainly blondes right???

Its not that they're racist..I wouldn't know though.

 

[oxymoron]

Versace doesn't cast any black models either. Has she casted them before? But then again, Halle did do the S/S 06 Ads, but for the runway its like mainly blondes right???

Its not that they're racist..I wouldn't know though.

Yeah, Liya. How about Jil Sanders or Calvin Klien? I don't think Versace cast any Asian models as well. I know Hye, Ai and Ling (I believe) have never walked in Versace.

 

[KhaoticKharma]

The Prada campaign from 1994, as mentioned before, scanned by OMIFAN9 and featuring Naomi. As classy and elegant as could be.

I could kiss you right now! I have been looking for those adverts for the last year!!

 

[dizzytacks]

I think I pointed this out on another thread, but the reason that there is a shortage of black models on the whole is that black women tend to be on the heavier side, more healthy looking. Jessica White could have had a great career- but she chose to get implants, like countless other models who prefer to look curvy. With black men for Dior Homme, it's the same way. Black men tend to prefer looking muscular and healthy- great for Ralph Lauren, not so much for Heide Silmane.

I will only be outraged at Prada, or any other caucasian-centric designer, if it is found out that they are not seeing black models or telling agencies not to send them to their castings. I think that everyone should have the chance to prove themself, regardless.

i don't agree with your first comment but i do agree with your second, But really, how many african/american models are there in the first place in comparison to white models...

 

[dizzytacks]

Yeah, Liya. How about Jil Sanders or Calvin Klien? I don't think Versace cast any Asian models as well. I know Hye, Ai and Ling (I believe) have never walked in Versace.

when jil sander was gone and (i can't remember his name) took over liya did all his shows and she has done calvin but i still have not seen an asian in versace, but hasn't caroline ribiero done versace(i am assuming she has asian in herflower:

 

[oxymoron]

when jil sander was gone and (i can't remember his name) took over liya did all his shows and she has done calvin but i still have not seen an asian in versace, but hasn't caroline ribiero done versace(i am assuming she has asian in herflower:

Thanks for the info.

I think there was a discussion in another thread a while back about how selective Prada was with its casting of models. I know girls like Caroline Trentini, Natasha Poly, Maria Carla, Lisa Cant and a few others have never walked for Prada. Who are some other "big" white models that never walked in their show?

 

[tott]

i think it's easy to sort people into a color block becuase the world is obsessed with labels, and going into something like facial features is a completely different discussion.Liya is ethiopian, an ethiopian will look different from a nigerian, the same with a norwegian and a parisian!

Very true! There are some characteristics that are very Swedish and very Finnish, in general, even though we're neighbouring countries and there has been a lot of "inter-breeding" during the last millenia or so...

And on the topic of Ethiopians, many I've met are tall, slim, regal and stunning... They really should be more visible in the fashion world...

Could it be that many non-whites don't even consider a fashion career because they "know" they won't get anywhere? Is it a self-fulfilling prophecy?

 

[ultramarine]

Hum .. never thought of that .. but now that you mention it ... yikes ... that'd be quite a faux pas

 

[KhaoticKharma]

Could it be that many non-whites don't even consider a fashion career because they "know" they won't get anywhere? Is it a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Yeah, that is major factor. Along with the fact that many black models know that there is more money going into mainstream fashion. When push comes to shove, mainstream fashion is a much smarter move- these days, they are the highest paid and most famous models. Along with the fact that mainstream models can eat!

 

[arlekindearrabal]

Versace doesn't cast any black models either. Has she casted them before? But then again, Halle did do the S/S 06 Ads, but for the runway its like mainly blondes right???

Its not that they're racist..I wouldn't know though.

they've cast liya and i've also seen kiara kabukuru in some of their shows, and of course, naomi... ai tominaga did walk for versus once, and donatella regularly cast fernanda tavares and caroline ribeiro back in the day

 

[KhaoticKharma]

^ Apart from Prada, most of the Italian brands use African Americans (more so than New York and Paris). It is a pretty big generalization in the fashion world that Milan looks for 'exotic, raw, sex appeal' more so than the haute chic of Paris and the socially acceptable and always comfortable New York. Most black models are sexy!

 

[imthejolt]

i haven't read all of these posts, but this is a bit ridiculous. honestly, it could just be coincidence, or maybe paler models fit the vision or whatever better. and any model could add class or take it away.

but how are the models important? they're pretty much nothing more than hangers for the clothing. when you're treating people like hangers, the collection seems to flow easier if every hanger is identical to the ones before and after it.

but that's not to say i don't want diversity on the runway. it's miucca's or whoever's decision; we can't do that much about it.

 

[MTRLBY]

Yeah, Liya. How about Jil Sanders or Calvin Klien? I don't think Versace cast any Asian models as well. I know Hye, Ai and Ling (I believe) have never walked in Versace.

didnt jenny shimizu do something with CK?

 

[dizzytacks]

then again, for prada it is all about the clothes, i remember the season with the tie dye and daria closed with a sari inspired dress in gold, i think that if an asian, black, native american, etc etc, wore it, it would be taken out of context, and seem exploitive when the whole ambition was the opposite,in that collection i can see the reasoning but the most recent F/W could have easily worked with a load of girls...

 

[Acid]

i found this great video

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-1747522998339070683&q=prada

its so funny to see kate, naomi, linda and christy all doing prada!

 

[kisa]

i found this great video

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-1747522998339070683&q=prada

its so funny to see kate, naomi, linda and christy all doing prada!

Wow that was a great video! Thanks Acid! Off topic, but it's funny to see how Prada copies itself sometimes. Through the years in that video there were a couple of outfits that were almost the same done more then once!

 

[BaroqueRockstar]

ai never walked for versace!!! what's versace smoking? ai is amazing!

wasn't there some prada asian controversy too, about how prada doesn't use asian girls? i've seen hye in their shows, so i don't really believe it, but that's just what i've heard some people say

has prada ever used ai tominaga?