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Valentina Sampaio: The Latest SI Swimsuit “Rookie”
Making history Valentina Sampaio is the 23-year-old model creating waves with her ground-breaking feature in the 2020 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. The Brazilian trailblazer has become the first transgender woman to appear in the magazine since its first edition in 1964. Sampaio, who has become the latest swimsuit “rookie” revealed for 2020, marks a turning point for the transgender community and Sports Illustrated. Whilst her Vogue Paris cover in 2017 was her first personal milestone, Sampaio has continued to succeed. In addition, in 2019, she became the first transgender model to walk in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show. Another huge breakthrough in a traditionally exclusive industry that is often set…
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(Fashion) Minority Report: Restoring the Fashion Industry.
The newly created ‘(Fashion) Minority Report’ could potentially be the breakthrough we have all been waiting for, in the attempt to start a new movement in the British fashion industry. Within this article, you will find some helpful information on the new campaign and how to get involved! What is the ‘Fashion Minority Report’? A new three-step programme has launched this July, creating a programme to improve diversity within the fashion industry in the UK. (Fashion) Minority Report was developed with the intention to encourage fashion companies to commit to recruiting and promoting diversity within their companies. This will be encouraged to be done easily through the inclusion of members…
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Diversity on Catwalks: A Remedy for Toxic Beauty Standards
Over the years, diversity on the catwalk has become a growing theme to challenge beauty standards in the fashion industry. Models have always been a reflection of the ideal shape, size, height, and colour that societal norms have reinforced. Since a young age I have always been inspired by fashion and catwalks, I admired the looks of many models and dreamed that only one day I could be as beautiful. Needless to say, the models I desired to look like were thin, tall and mostly white. I am not tall nor as thin, surely this was harmful to the way I see myself at the age of 14? If I…
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The Gender Binary, Fashion, and Diversity
Fashion and the gender binary Fashion is something that the vast majority of people see every day and this includes those who fall outside the gender binary. From seeing fashion magazines on shop shelves to actively watching what the newest designers put out on the runways, most people in society have some form of interaction with the fashion industry on a regular basis. As such, doesn’t it make sense that fashion campaigns should accurately reflect the diversity of this society? It makes sense that they should. However, this isn’t always the case. Diversity can be defined as the inclusion of people from a variety of social backgrounds, ethnic backgrounds, sexualities,…
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Hijab-Wearing Models Take Their Place on the Catwalk
For a very long time, not only in fashion but the world, there has been a sort of disliking towards Muslims. A woman wearing a hijab signifies that they are Muslim. It is a large visible indicator that they cannot escape from. So, having them strut the catwalk in recent years is a big step into opening the minds of close-minded people. Such close-minded people view hijab women as oppressed from the men in the religion but also the religion itself. As a Muslim woman myself, I can confirm that this is untrue for most women. In Islam, women should only wear the hijab if they want to devote their…
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Cultural Appropriation: Diversity in Fashion isn’t a Trend
Diversity shouldn’t be a fashion trend; the fashion industry needs to be diverse. Fashion lacks diversity in many ways. Maybe one brand limits its clothing to ‘one size fits all’ (even though we all know it doesn’t). Or perhaps the marketing for a new collection underrepresents ethnic minority groups or has an offensive campaign that exhibits cultural appropriation. On a regular basis, we can see the exclusivity of fashion. Yet we all wear clothes. So there shouldn’t be barriers preventing any individual from wearing what they want when they want. This said, in recent years the fashion industry has slowly moved towards more diversity in models, marketing and its attempt…
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United Colours of Benetton: how a small Italian brand became a bastion of diversity
The United Colours of Benetton may not be on the lips of consumers or hot on the press of newspaper campaigns anymore. But they really should be. For decades the brand lead the way in ‘shock-advertising’ bringing to the fore some of the most controversial topics of the day. An approach to advertising little seen before. In their heyday, the Italian brand managed to entice consumers with their one of a kind garments and became a staple in many European wardrobes. But since then their fortunes have dwindled somewhat and no longer resonates the way it used to. Where did it all start? Since its inception in 1965, the brand…
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Transgender Models: A History in the Making
The fashion industry is changing its ways to create a normal and acceptable perspective when it comes to transgender models. There are many questions to whether it is a marketing strategy due to the ever-changing and progressive views of generation-Z. However, that topic is for another article. Perhaps you’re asking why this is so important? Well, I will give you a little look into the history and appalling treatment of transgender models before the industry woke up. April Ashley – 60’s Model Born George Jamieson, April Ashley joined the navy at 16. The strain of living as the wrong gender proved too much. Ashley was discharged from the navy after…
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The Secret’s out Victoria: diversity is in
Lingerie – mid 19th century: from French, from linge ‘linen’. Lingerie is a way women can be in touch with their femininity and sexuality, becoming an extremely profitable market. Victoria’s Secret used to be the pioneers of the luxury undergarments, but times have changed. The secret’s out Victoria: diversity is in. What is Victoria’s Secret? The fashion and beauty house founded Roy and Graye Raymond specialises in lingerie, sleep wear, sportswear and apparel. Since 1995 Victoria’s Secret have hosted their very own fashion shows. They employ world renowned supermodels such as Tyra Banks, Bella Hadid, and Adriana Lima to showcase their latest launches at the star studded event. The models, nicknamed Victoria’s…
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‘Diversity is not a trend.’
The conversation surrounding diversity in the fashion industry is finally been discussed and echoed. Fashion brands, magazines, and designers are now aware of the responsibilities they have to represent a breadth of culture and identities. In an age where a denial to represent or acknowledge certain groups of people can result in viral outrage, brands have adapted in order to remain relevant. Focusing on fashion brands, high street shops such as River Island, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger are a few brands that have made moves to cater to people beyond the mainstream. Now high-end fashion brands are finally catching on with Gucci’s newest face representing a group that has…
