The Sedated Pace of Fashion’s Inclusivity
As turmoil permeates through the entire country, it is paramount to submit our lives and industries to self-inspection.
How are we actually affecting change?
Think about the standard of beauty in human form. Don’t worry. Most of us have unwittingly envisioned the similar. That vision is not a sign of who we have become, but what has been ingrained in our subconscious throughout our life thus far. “By the late ’90s, international catwalks had become a near-monolith of racial homogeneity” states Sarah Kent in her article for Business of Fashion.
As turmoil permeates through the entire country, it is paramount to submit our lives and industries to self-inspection. How are we actually affecting change?
The world of fashion is no stranger to a systemic lack of inclusivity. One might believe that is fashion is art, and art within itself has no barriers. Nevertheless, it is an art we sell – making it a business most of all. And that business is ran by corporate behemoths, which have been almost exclusively led by white male executives.
Thankfully, internet happened, and with it - social media. This has wholly altered the fashion scenery, “giving visibility and a voice to communities the fashion world has historically ignored.”
It has put companies in direct touch with the consumer. The consumer, on a large scale, becomes an activist and advocate for change in the industry.
This became most noticeable in brands’ recent campaigns, and the rapid increase in casting non-white models across the industry’s biggest shows such as London, Paris, and New York. However, this is just the face of change, not a systemic shift. “What’s missing right now is an understanding that the barriers preventing inclusion are systemic, so the transformation needs to be systemic. Inclusion isn’t a check mark,” states Ben Barry, chair of fashion at Ryerson University in Toronto.
While the industry leaders have been eager to listen to consumer demand for more diverse faces, there’s evidence they haven’t been eager to yield power and bring more voices to the table where decisions are made.
Nevertheless, inclusivity is starting to prevail, slowly but surely. In 2017, Edward Enninful became the first black editor-in-chief of British Vogue. In 2018, Tyler Mitchell shot Beyoncé for American Vogue’s September issue — the first black photographer to shoot a cover in the magazine’s history. In the same year, Virgil Abloh became the first black man to be an artistic director at an LVMH-owned brand.
In the swimwear world, brands like Jade Swim, Castamira, Andrea Iyamah, and Riot Swim are showing what minority led companies bring to the table with a different perspective.
JADE SWIM
JADE Swim is different, unique, and meaningful brand by fashion editor & stylist Brittany Kozerski. Brittany combines her minimalist aesthetic with innovative silhouettes and unique design details. The collection is carefully crafted from luxe fabric with shape retention technology to smooth and sculpt the body. UV protection and resistance to chlorine, suntan lotions, & oils ensure long term wearability.
JADE Swim Shop Now
CASTAMIRA
Jamaican-born Wilhelmina model Chantel Davis founded Castamira Swim out of her love for figure-flattering, bodyconscious shapewear. Chantel debuted her first collection of luxury one-pieces to do just that and today is focused on using eco-friendly materials and packaging to share her gorgeous maillots with the world.
Castamira Swim Shop Now
ANDREA IYAMAH
Andrea Iyamah owned by Nigerian fashion designer Dumebi Iyamah, is a clothing line strongly inspired by colour, ethnic cultures, nature and design elements that stay true to creating authentic clothing and resort wear with hints of a retro yet contemporary edge in design. With a flare for fashion and the arts, she advanced her tailoring skills and educated herself about fashion which later fuelled the genesis of the A.I. brand at an early age of 17.
Although Andrea Iyamah is popularly recognized for its eccentric and unique take on swimwear, using vibrant colours and cuts inspired by an array of African cultures, the brand also specializes in ready-to-wear and custom made special event dresses under its sister brand Andrea Iyamah Bride. Strongly influenced by the brand’s African heritage, a blend of various cultures inspired the colours and themes of the first official swim collection which launched in 2013.
Located in Ontario Canada and Lagos Nigeria, the brand caters to females across borders who are confident, adventurous and unafraid of clothing designed with a statement. Since 2011, the brand has focused on selling ethnicity with a modern twist, while maintaining its attention to quality, detail and figure flattering silhouettes.
RIOT SWIM
Riot Swim is effortlessly luxe swimwear brand featured in magazines such as HARPER'S BAZAAR, ELLE,THE ZOE REPORT, MAXIM. The brand was created by model Monti Landers in LA in 2016.
