The effects of covid19 and the radical uprising for racial equality on every level have rattled the fashion industry to its core. Everyone seems to be twirling in unfamiliar spaces while trying to figure out how New York Fashion Week shows are going to go down this September. Plus, filter in the fact that there is little or no diversity among the upper ranks of the fashion industry. 

FIRST AT BAZAAR

Just about two weeks ago, Bazaar Magazine named its first Black Editor-in-Chief after 153 years in the business of publishing. Samira Nasr was announced as the new Editor-in-Chief of Harper’s Bazaar. She was born in Montreal, Canada to a Lebanese father and a Trinidadian mother, graduated from NYU School of Journalism, and started her fashion career as an intern for the then Vogue Magazine’s Creative Director Grace Coddington. Samira became a fashion editor at Elle Magazine where she worked for 5 years. She was Style Editor at `In Style’ Magazine and was also Fashion Director at Vanity Fair. Along the way, Samira has styled campaigns for Beauty brands like; L’Oreal, Estee Lauder, Tiffany & Company, Laura Mercier, Tory Burch, and Clarins among them.

ANDRE’ BLASTS ANNA

Meanwhile, Andre Leon Talley, former Editor-at-Large at Vogue continues to put his former boss Anna Wintour on blast in his new book “The Chiffon Trenches.” Anna had to let her editor of Bon Appetit Magazine Adam Rappoport go because he appeared mocking Latinos wearing Blackface a few years ago in photographs. Ms. Wintour’s position at Vogue has been questioned, mainly because of the magazine not hiring people of color in key positions including; photographers, writers, models, and designers. She made a statement to staffers as follows:   

ANNA WINTOUR’S  STATEMENT

“I want to say this especially to the black members of our team – I can only imagine what these days have been like. But I also know that the hurt, violence, and injustice we’re seeing and talking about have been around for a long time. Recognizing it and doing something about it is long overdue. I want to say plainly that I know Vogue has not found enough ways to elevate and give space to Black editors, writers, photographers, designers, and others. We have made mistakes too, publishing images or stories that have been hurtful or intolerant. I take full responsibility for those mistakes. It can’t be easy to be a Black employee at Vogue and there are too few of you. I know it is not enough to say we will do better but we will – and please know that I value your voices and responses as we move forward. I am listening and would like to hear your feedback and your advice if you would like to share either. I am proud of the content we have published on our site over these past few days but I also know that there is much more work to do. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch with me directly. I am arranging ways we can discuss these issues together candidly, but in the meantime, I welcome your thoughts or reactions.” 

ANDRE’S clap-back

Andre’ Leon Talley, while promoting his new book on SiriusXM Radio, told host Sandra Bernhard; “Clearly, this statement because her power base has been somewhat affected by the competition of this young African-American person that is going on,” referring to the appointment of Samira Nasr at Bazaar Magazine. “You know the world of white privilege is complicated. The statement came out of the space of white privilege. And, I want to say one more thing, Anna Wintour is a colonial broad…..a colonial dame. She comes from Britain, she’s a product of an environment of colonialism. She is entitled, and I don’t think she’ll do anything to let anything get in the way of her white privilege…Don’t apologize for your mistakes. Own up to it dear. All we want is respect, it’s all we ever asked for.”

MONEY TALKS
SO with all this drama unfolding, in an interesting move which seems to put a band-aid on the whole situation, the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) and Vogue Magazine has created `A Common Thread’ – a fund for American fashion. They will award $2.2 million to designers, retailers, and other fashion professionals. And, another $2 million in grants – $1 million goes to Harlem Fashion Row, Icon 360 Fund for Black and People of Color Companies impacted by the Covid19 pandemic. Another $1,015,000. will be distributed across 26 fashion companies in the United States.