The Resistance to Diversify

Bethann Hardison's long legacy of supporting diversity within the fashion industry, and her ongoing campaign to end racism on the runway has earned her the Council of Fashion Designers of America 2014 Founders Award. The former model turned fashion activist will be presented with the CFDA’s highest honor on Monday, June 2, at the Lincoln Center. She and the Diversity Coalition continue to fight the longtime battle against the lack of diversity on fashion’s runways, its magazine pages and its ad campaigns.

Bethann Hardison and Iman-longtime friend and Diversity Coalition member

In a means of holding the governing bodies of fashion accountable, Hardison on behalf of the Diversity Coalition wrote an open letter. It reads: “Eyes are on an industry that season after season watches design houses consistently use one or no models of color. No matter the intention, the result is racism. Not accepting another based on the color of their skin is clearly beyond ‘aesthetic’ when it is consistent with the designer’s brand. Whether it’s the decision of the designer, stylist or casting director, that decision to use basically all white models, reveals a trait that is unbecoming to modern society. It can no longer be accepted, nor confused by the use of the Asian model.”

Most recently, notable change has taken place in ad campaigns and on the runways. Hardison addressed the governing bodies once more in another email.“Last season we addressed the international fashion industry for their lack of conduct in being racially diverse. There was a marked improvement on the runways and a positive response to the letters received by the major fashion councils and the designer brands they count as members. First we will share the results. It is important to say that there are design houses serviced by casting directors and stylists who are latent, as they seem comfortable with stereotypical images. Although progress was made last season within certain houses, the objective is to continue this improvement across the entire industry. We look for consistency and not because of advocacy or a season lending to darker skin. So we will continue to watch and reveal season to season. Diversifying is not difficult. The resistance to do so is intriguing.”

Click here to view the Guidelines on Racial Diversity and best practices submitted to Diane von Furstenberg, President and Steven Kolb, CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

President of CFDA Diane von Ferstenberg, Diversity Activist Bethann Hardison, CFDA CEO Steven Kolb

Thank you Ms. Hardison for your continued activism to diversify the runway as a means to have it more accurately mirror the world. Diversity is a beautiful thing and makes economical sense. Blacks have an incredible amount of buying power and are projected to spend more than $1.1 trillion by 2015. Don't believe me? Read here.

Congratulations Ms Hardison and the Diversity Coalition! For your continued efforts against, and at times with the fashion powers that be, you are appreciated.  

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