Fashion itself is a reflection of social, economic, political and cultural change, so why does it not reflect real people? Diversity has become present across various labels on the catwalk, in campaigns and adverts. Kanye West is a prime example, 97 percent of the models walking down Yeezy Season 4 runway were of colour. Are times changing? Slowly. For the Spring 2017 season, a recent diversity report on thefashionspot.com shows “For the first time in recent history, more than 25 percent of the model castings were nonwhite.” Despite the ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the inequality in the fashion industry, many brands are still sticking with their ‘type’. The few who break the barriers into the industry, who embrace their differences are sunken into yet another label. Ashley Graham stated to Vogue “I don’t like the term ‘plus-size.’ it’s just not helping women. I’m ready to get rid of it.” 

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Graham appeared on the cover of Vogue 2017 the first time any model not deemed a ‘straight-model’ has appeared. When asked what makes a cover girl, Vogue responded “Someone who feels relevant right now”. Which leads to an un-nerving sense of thought. Is diversity in fashion a trend? Or is it here to stay. For years’ women and men have been asking why models who represent “normal” sizing can’t be used in high profile campaigns without the sense of a gimmick or trend. 

 

While the industry is slowly recognizing the unequal casting the balance has become more complex than the days of the noughties with the models appeared homogeneous. With reactions from social media and the power to call out brands It’s no longer possible for the industry to turn a blind eye. Models now are often cast due to the followers on social media and the families they are born into, but slowly uniqueness and difference are breaking the barriers. Relatability and personality is what people are now diverting their attention too. What we see is on television or in magazines is what we set as aspiration, if we drop labels and prejudice’ whether it be colour or cellulite we may gain a confidence in who we actually are, not the fabricated visuals that we see. Our differences make us who we are, and should be celebrated in fashion not with labels or gimmicks but normality. There is no one type of person buying into fashion so shouldn’t that be celebrated? People are people and should be categorized as just that. Our only ‘label’ should be our name.