Why Diversity In The Fashion Industry Is Important 

Since people keep asking about this I thought I’d list the designers I mentioned in the video: AFRICA Kenneth Ize Thebe Magugu CHINA Shushu Tong Uma Wang Ziggy Chen MEXICO Barbara Sánchez-Kane JAPAN Anrealage Kei Ninomiya

That paradox of "everything has been done" is so eurocentric. what they mean when saying it is that western culture has been well explored in fashion but so many non-euro designers are innovating. China and Korea are brilliant examples of fashion design that is pushing the envelope. The lens needs to move away from the west. Down with the circle jerkers lool

Awesome commentary and perspective. Real informative video!!!

Finally a background and yes diversity leads to success.

Agree, the future of fashion is outside of Europe. Would be a gamechanger to see big fashion conglomerates like LVMH and Kering embrace more diversity when appointing creative directors. They have so much power in their ability to elevate the careers of new designers.

Multiple interesting talking points brought up from the color tones, to the diversity in not only culture but also idea. It seems to be what I might refer to as heritage versus innovation, and that affects industries as a whole

I think, and because I am a Nigerian studying in LCF, you hit the nail on the head here. I recently told my tutors that one of the reasons students of ethnic backgrounds seem to simply regurgitate Eurocentric values/ideals of taste is that fundamentally, there is no diversity in the way we are being taught. From artistic references to contextual studies, because out tutors were themselves raised with an Eurocentric standard, it is hard for them to understand aesthetics that challenge those which they are familiar with. Designers draw a lot from their cultural heritage, some from family others from social class heritage, but it impacts how we see the world. The way forward is by creating and promoting more than one standard/ideal of taste which will be quite hard but certainly not impossible, because the entirety of the fashion industry simply promulgates Eurocentric norms. I am looking forward to having a voice like yours in the industry!

This is not a dig at you because you've introduced me to a lot of non white designers. This is actually a general question: why can't poc who are fashion enthusiasts, be they stylists, writers, photographers, designers and etc. build platforms of their (I say 'their' because I'm not a part of the fashion bubble) own away separate from the European industry? Am I naive, or aren't we in the day and age, where that is possible? Why do people act as if the Europeans and their industry, have to be the gatekeepers and the pinnacle of creativity, beauty and art, when so much of that exists everywhere outside of them? As for elitism and nepotism, that will never change imo. They will always prioritise European ideals and beauty over anything else, even if they have to take from a non white/Euro source and condense into something worth profiting from. That is what their concept of fashion and beauty was built off on after all, and that's okay with me. Granted, there are some European designers and artists I adore and who I love to learn about, but there is so much delightful richness and beauty in in fashion from the perspectives of people of colour, and it's a shame that for the most part, it takes some sort of certified stamp of approval from the European fashion world to see that. It's mentality I've been trying to unload, myself.

I feel like you’re going to offend a lot of people... so be it.

Honestly the thing you said about people who arent really passionate about fashion but have connections really resonates...with any luck passion and drive will allow everyone else to find a spot in this industry

As someone who is from low income, East Europe I find the journalism part and the elitism such a awful thing. It shouldn’t matter the background of the designer. Back to watching the rest of the video.

This is great channel. I just found you today. You are a breath of fresh air.

Everything has not been done in Fashion! There are different ideas! I love this video and so so true! Crap! Crap! I need to visit Mexico I love Korean and Japanese fashion ❤

Yeah high fashion has always had these elitist undertones to it. That probably just stems from the origins of a lot of the fashion houses and stuff like that though

Many are just doing the same. The far East and Africa are amazing

Beautiful video dude! We need not only racial but class diversity!!

That intro was so smooth. Great topic and your perspective on it was very insightful.

It is so true that most people in Fashion are very Middle Class.

I agree with this so much. I study fashion journalism at Lcf and we do focus on Eurocentric ideas must of the time. And our lectures are mostly white British. Therefore my perspective is tarnished by their point of view. There is also a massive emphasis on ' who you know and not what you know' and networking. Which to some extent I agree with but again the students from wealthier backgrounds and money are bound to be able to get better contacts and connections, therefore its a classist approach to be working at.

I feel it’s important that most designers study art and fashion. I studied both Art and Fashion and this really helped my understanding

NOO! LMAO, Europe has not been it, North South Central America is where it's at!!!

Also, you should check out the brand HYKE. They're also based in Japan and I think their aesthetic and presentation might interest you.

For me, Im from Hong Kong where the fashion scene basically inexist, only a selective group of people try to make things better and receive a lot of criticism, and thats why Im going to London to study fashion as I dont see a bright future here. With that said, I dont feel protected in the UK neither. This industry is not friendly to new comers or foreigners. Employers usually prioritize local which makes me feel like Im just the same person in Hong Kong with an extremely expensive graduate certificate. Im starting to think whether I will be wasting my money for nothing.🤦🏻‍♂️

This was amazing. One of your best✊🏽

Could you please make a video on newer designers for us to keep an eye on from all continents :D ?

Great video!

Thanks for this video! So glad you are introducing designers from different cultures. I'm curious about how you learn about these designers? How you find information on fashion, artists and creators from your own country or any non-europeans/non-american ones? Are they featured on established magazines or do you have any recommendations on other publications that bring light specifically to diverse designers and innovation? (Not just magazines, any other platforms too) Thanks for your videos!

🤟🏿

by the way, you are really sharp keep it up

I study Fashion Journalism at a degree level, the only black person and I hate how fashion says they are diverse but it seems as it is for a trend xx

Really loved your point about how fashion should move forward into shining a light on other parts of the world and their designers eg africa❤️

Loved the video and i definitely agree with most of your statements. I do believe that if a brand like dior uses south-american or african "references" without using models of the same background it's just plain and simple cultural appropriation

really appreciated your points about the need to use models that represent references in the garments. I think that all aspects of fashion need diversity as different people obviously bring different perspectives to the table

Preach preach preach

SUCH A GOOD TALKER So important and relevant for now, thank you

This is why I really appreciate your videos. You are so well spoken, contribute with a new fresh perspective and you really cover multiple sides of the spectrum. Could’nt agree more on what was being said. Keep doing your thing my g!

Man U should have 100k subs by now. People are sleep

As a Peruvian I’ve always wished there was more Hispanic representation in fashion. Haider would be the closest latino designer at the forefront of fashion but he was only Colombian born and was adopted by a French couple, so he doesn’t know the language (he mentioned he didn’t in an interview in 2011)

I totally agree .the only reason why Saint Laurent is as it is right now is thanks to Saint Laurent him self coming from Algeria and using French and Algerian together.

Omg! Where have you been. I lost your details so let me know your details. It’s so sad that Hilary Alexander died! How dare they put down African Fashion. It’s wrong because they always assume or have assumptions.

mad video bro really enjoyed it can you talk about Kenneth ize next?

I have seen lots of black models but I don’t recall any Latinos. I love how Christian Siraiano uses a diversity of models in all shapes and sizes.

Great video!!👍👍

I'm from India. In my country, design is not about artistic expression, it is stuck in the phase of wearable clothing that needs to look pretty. Or only ocassion wear that people would want to spend big bucks on. It has also to do with the fact that it is a developing country and only a consistently growing economy. It is over and over reiterated in school to make clothes that makes sense, that people wear. Not to go overboard with expression. We also have a rich traditional textile industry for the growth of which designers are responsible. Now, if i want to study more about artistic expression of clothing or advanced pattern making , about more abstarct design processes, I would want to go to a design school in the west. However, then I am bombarded with the history and culture of the west which is something completely new and unrelatable. That's how it is.

Fashion journalism is becoming more and more irrevelant in a time where fashion publication of all sort has become so readily available. Irrespective though, fashion design can be as artistic and creative as it wants to be but is still irrelevant when no one buys it. The reason why fashion is western centric is because that's where most of the money was originally spent, until recently.

I'm learning soo much!!!!!!!!

🙏🏾 this was great video, diversity in fashion was great to start a discussion about.

Applause Applause!!!! Truly one of your best, I'd like to see the response to a video like this in a race mix of students. IN my findings if a white professor had said the exact same things it would be received as intellectual thought but a black professor it would be dismissed as whining

Great, thought-provoking video as always, I've never thought about your point on the skin tones of models, but it makes perfect sense! I think encouraging diversity in fashion is also important because it allows for those within the fashion industry from non-Western cultures to serve as role models. As an Asian, I think that having a career in the fashion industry has always been looked down upon. Even here in Singapore, which is becoming more accepting of those interested in the arts, my friends still look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them that I'd like to do anything remotely related to the fashion industry as a career. A lot of people think that those who try to pursue these careers are doomed to fail or be broke, or that the only reason why they chose to pursue a career in fashion is that they aren't intelligent enough for more "traditional" careers. Therefore, I think that such role models are really important, because they can really show young talent that the naysayers are wrong. They can show them that it IS possible to succeed, even if the "fashion infrastructure" in these cultures is not as well established as in the Western world.

I’m new to your channel and have been binging your videos recently- I love the way you present your ideas, great video as always 😊

Sorry I was late on watching the video, been busy with Uni projects lately. For my overall thoughts, I definitely agree with the elitism point, that fashion tend to have this mentality that designers have to be of a certsin background to be great. Though the situation is improving, it was certainly a problem when McQueen came about. And to add, fashion houses must concern with diversity as well by hiring people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, etc. with merits in mind in order to understand the different perspectives and nuances differing cultures can bring. Being something, let's say, European based, doesn't mean you cannot be diversed. Just my two cents.

Just put my post notification bell on for the first time! Such valuable content and great journalism

YES!!! THIS IS SO IMPORTANT! I'm a signed model who recently got signed to a mother agency with tattoos, so I was really surprised!

What is your opinion on the harajuku street fashion?

You are so right with all your points, fashion should be for everyone so their excuse for why they only use certain models is bullshit

There is not only talent in the West and they need to stop this crap! 😮😂😊

This is such a well done and insightful video! Great job, keep up the good work dude! :)

peace, love the conviction. keep up the dope work! I hope to work with you some day.

5 minutes in this video and i already love it, great video and very insightful!

You probably won’t see this but this summer i worked for a fashion journalist. She’s a black women from Belgium who runs a fashion blog and has one of the best fashion podcasts out. Her name is Dominique Nzeyimana and het podcast is called The most she has an amazing almost 2 hour long episode with walter van beirendonck that i think you would love

I think you bring up a lot of very good points-- but I think even in Europe itself, people tend to ignore the entire eastern block and only consider Russia. Which is a pity, there is a lot of potential in the east too, but it all tends to be either dismissed or clumped into a single entity, as if the USSR still existed. This also might be a political issue, but overall as you mentioned in the video, even among white europeans there can be a big difference in culture and family values. I'm only 22, but as a Bulgarian immigrant in western Europe I noticed that my views are vastly different compared to those of my western peers. I find myself in a situation where I can't completely relate to europeans from wealthier nations, but I also can't relate to the few but extremely wealthy fashionistas from the ex USSR-Jugoslavia-Socialist countries... which seem to be the only ones who are given a voice, even though only a tiny fraction of our populations can even afford designer to begin with

Broadly speaking I agree with all your points, except for Europe not having any innovative designers as it ignores people like Kiko, JW Anderson, Craig Green, Iris van Herpen, Raf etc, or innovation doesn't have to be so pronounced/showy but can be rooted in european traditions of restrained refinement in design and expression as shown by designers like Namacheko, Ann D etc

Really great topic.

Very insightful, definitely agree on your point about diversity

DO A FREKIN VIDEO ON HOOD BY AIR.

GO AND CHANGE THE GAME💫

What Mexican Fashion designers do u recommend to check out? I want to do more research on them

Thank you for this 😌 i found your Channel today and I subscribed and turned post notifications on

Swaped the ACW for the Prada!🔥....thank you for this video, you’d think this would be common sense for designers 😩

Thank you for the skill share, as well as the input.

great video. Thanks, keep up

Great video! Curious as to who some of these mexican designers are, would love to know more about them

Good video, now that you mentioned them, I think a video on Uma wang or Ziggy Chen would be nice

Great video! Inspired me to do my own 💯

so good!!

Rightly have you spoken about diversity in thought being crucial. Even though I was born and raised in the South Bronx, I do not fit in the typical mold (and I think pondering on that may have given me a few ideas.) As for cultural references, while I do not label myself a fashion designer (I think of someone sketching and creating fabric prints,) the idea of using the coqui petroglyph on an ascot was a big idea that while wasn't a big money maker on my shop, is something I am proud of. The coqui is a frog indigenous to Puerto Rico, known for it's sound at night. The Tainos viewed them in high regard by carving their image onto rocks (the petroglyph,) and being part of their mythology. As to Western fashion being stale, Kevin Max said it once in a book as to how that music labels would prefer signing several artists who look and sound alike over one different artist to avoid risk. Or as he eloquently put it in a poem "I face the microphone and fumble in my pockets for a change; a break from the deranged world of . . . plotting out the death of art."

I get what your saying with innovation in fashion, but there are just some many layers to fashion that it's sometimes not in a brands best intrest to innovate for whatever reason. For example Yohji collections and shows as of recent are more subdued, nostolgic and reminicent, enjoying life in every second instead of always having the new. But I do agree with pretty much everying you are saying, I think there is a space for innovation in fashion and I think you'd appreciate more contemporary brands and publications with diversity already in them. If you havn't heard of Not Just A Label I think you'd like their focus on contemporary brands.

We need more Midget Models. Now before I get cancelled ask yourself why did you get offended at the truth....... Midget Margiela line

Sushi tong is actually a restaurant name

Fashion should be about creativity and reflecting life, it's kinda sad to see that attention (in the role celebrities play in the industry) and being seen is such a big factor in the 'instagram' era

He spitting facts

Omg I love your Prada bucket hat 😋

Very important. The intro was sick 🔥🔥

I’ve been waiting on you to film a video on this topic! You definitely didn’t disappoint. Another great video Ayo ✨

so important!!

Im Filipino and sadly there's only few fashion designers in our country :( I honestly want to see more Filo fashion designers

This is a cool video, man. I like your thoughts on the subject matter.

You are the man

Great vid man!

great video! love the kanghyuk shoutout, one of my favorites

Great video🙌🏾, nailed it, however on the flip side, as a design student myself and black one at that I kind of understand why we use skinny models because it’s like a blank canvas, if you use someone curvy it can, take the attention away from the garment itself because it can easily become too sexy (sexualised), what do you think ?...

Hi, I appreciate I found this channel. I went to fashion school many years ago in Miami and although I cut the career short I still love or hate 😆 art in general. I like your insight and would like to ask if may be willing to do a an opinion video of what you think of Colombian fashion. I’m from Barranquilla, Colombia, I reside in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Colombia Moda takes place in the city of Medellin. I have my reservations as far as design and models and would love to hear your educated opinion . 💕 Don’t hold back 😊

Hey man, thanks for the video. Very interesting discussion as always ✌🏾 I was wondering : what's the song that you use in the intro and background ? It's dope

Hmm..I really like this guy

what show was that in the intro

could you link some of the diff designers you name from Africa, china etc? idk how to spell theml lol

Yes!! This is it!!

I thought fashion ads and commercials are based on the population ratio of a nation.. On Indian ads for example you will see mostly Indians models on ads because thats represents the majority of their population, it will be very strange to see more white models vs Indian models. In Kenya for example will be very strange to see mostly Asians or white models on ads when the majority of the population is black .. In the USA there is no difference if in the past you saw mostly white models on ads that’s because that represented the majority of the population at the time. thats definitely have changed over the years but to force a diversity of an specific race and make it look like is a majority that’s definitely not diversity that’s racism..

Keeping the status quo in style by pushing people to look only to some designers helps keeping the hegemony of big names, that's really it.

Great video!