Friday, August 8, 2008

CNN asks "Will fashion 'Black Issue' make a difference?"



There's not much new in this article, written by Lola Ogunnaike, but here is the link if you're interested. The best quote comes from Carlos Ojeda, an agent at New York Models. He basically gets into print what all of us have been thinking when he says:

"[This will tell people that] It's OK to have more than just one [black model], and she doesn't have to always be Naomi." 

and

"I hate to sound cynical, but by January, I feel like it will be back to business as usual...I want to be hopeful and positive, but a part of me does not want to get my hopes up."

Another "prominent" yet unnamed stylist quoted in the piece added, "You can't have an issue with all black girls, pat yourself on the back and say 'that's it for the year.' "

We'll all have to wait and see. Like I said earlier Jourdan Dunn seems to be getting a lot of work since the issue hit stands and of course Naomi is always busy. What I'd like to come out of this is for another Suede (or Colures) type magazine to get some serious financial backing in this country.

photo source: simplylovely

3 comments:

Beauty Is Diverse said...

I'm not really sure it will, to be honest.

Anonymous said...

Having generally avoided the Vogue Italia hype, I ask the same question: So when's the next one?

Then...

Will the world have to wait a decade or more? Will it be publication from the Americas?

And all's well and good to wish for some serious financial backing but all the money in the world mightn't be enough to drive mainstream demand (or better yet "acceptance") for modeling realism.

Feeling my blood rising, I'll sign off. Keep makin' fetch happen over here!

Anonymous said...

We still have a long way to go. Fashion is merely a microcosm of larger issues with respect to Black folk and racism.

It's been a good short-term peek at how things could be.