Vogue India August 2008 Controversy

[Crying Diamonds]

Sorry, a Fendi bib?

How disgustingly, decadently nouveau riche.



And how inspiring.

 

[Uchina]

It makes me sad. Is it supposed to make me sad?

 

[lollicandy]

Wow. ^It makes me sad too. In the same way the first Vogue China made me feel. I never get a sense of these vogues presenting a more equal style pov. They present very uncomfortable dialogues to the reader.

 

[Juliette3]

I feel it's wrong that people should feel outraged by what this photographer did. Inspired? yes. The controversy between poor and rich, that is something people should be outraged about and that is exactly what he is portraying by this work.
In my opinion this isn't tasteless or tacky at all.

 

[sofialuv]

I would like so see more pictures and with more detail.

So far i have mixed feelings about these but personally, i already find some items really ridiculous (like a $200 umbrella or a Fendi bib) and i don´t need to see a poor person holding one to feel/think about that.

 

[Scott]

honestly,i can understand the sensitivity toward them...i mean you're parading a 4 or 500$ bib and and showing clothes and shoes(prices,which they most likely haven't a clue of,these 'models') that in total are worth more than their homes and their clothes put together....now does that really sound poignant or witty at all? not to me. i think it showcases a sheer superficiality....almost a sense of complete disregard for human suffering. and i highly doubt this had anything less to do with creating a stupid fashion image than actually sending a substantial message. and these next images MMA posted with the article....i feel incredibly disgusted by the last one especially. a model in a gown flanked by a tank and soldiers with machine guns....now where is the beauty in that? it's shameless frivolity just to create a radical 'fashion' image amid despicable unrest and violence against children and women particularly.

 

[INTER]

I like it very much, I´m so tired of seeing fashion editorials all the same. I think the pictures are beautiful and I love the woman with the umbrella, laughing happily instead of a skinny Eastern model with a sad face like in all f****ng mags all around the world.

 

[bliss_]

This is just like when Galliano got raked over the coals for doing a collection inspired by the homeless. People, and mind you not the people being depicted but journalists and advocates who aren't living on the streets, were so offended because it was insensitive. Poverty exists all over the world and the main reason people get so worked up about something like this is because it's painful to be reminded of that fact. Everyone knows it, but no one wants to see it.

No one has a problem when fashion adapts the sari into a $2,500 gown, or takes a tiered gypsy skirt and does it in swarovski beaded silk. Everyone can ignore the fact that the clothes are representative of people who live a life of poverty if you dress models in native clothing and photograph them in a real setting. So why is it offensive to portray the actual people instead of an unrealistic fantasy?

I think these people should be proud of the fact that a publication as influential as Vogue decided not to glamourize India but instead saw something beautiful in the reality of India.

And just to clarify, I'm not some super-benevolent activist preaching from my soap box. I'm just as guilty as the next person of passing by homeless people on the streets and making an effort not to see it because it's an uncomfortable reality. That's probably why I appreciate what Vogue India has done.

very well said

 

[Kamelot]

This is just like when Galliano got raked over the coals for doing a collection inspired by the homeless. People, and mind you not the people being depicted but journalists and advocates who aren't living on the streets, were so offended because it was insensitive. Poverty exists all over the world and the main reason people get so worked up about something like this is because it's painful to be reminded of that fact. Everyone knows it, but no one wants to see it.

No one has a problem when fashion adapts the sari into a $2,500 gown, or takes a tiered gypsy skirt and does it in swarovski beaded silk. Everyone can ignore the fact that the clothes are representative of people who live a life of poverty if you dress models in native clothing and photograph them in a real setting. So why is it offensive to portray the actual people instead of an unrealistic fantasy?

I think these people should be proud of the fact that a publication as influential as Vogue decided not to glamourize India but instead saw something beautiful in the reality of India.

And just to clarify, I'm not some super-benevolent activist preaching from my soap box. I'm just as guilty as the next person of passing by homeless people on the streets and making an effort not to see it because it's an uncomfortable reality. That's probably why I appreciate what Vogue India has done.

I would agree with you if the merit was about whether to show poverty or not, its part of our own society let along developing countries.

However, to use these individuals without even acknowledging their names or even bothering to pay them decent wages is where the ethical lines might have been crossed. Its like the 'Slumdog Millionaire' controversy, using 'extremely' poor slum dwellers as actors (children specifically) without even paying them the standard labor laws have set in India until they are embarrassed into it.

Exploitation is part of our industry, but at lease pay them!

 

[KKnardi]

I find this juxtaposition highly disturbing. my heart is with these poor people, not with fendi or anything of that nature. it's perturbing to help these people in this way. a vast percentage of them don't have clean water and we are talking about hermes bags?