In honor of New York Fashion Week, this Thursday, legendary model and fashion activist Bethann Hardison will join @ESSENCE_Debates for a lunchtime chat about the lack of Black models on the runway.
Hardison made headlines last week when she and the Diversity Coalition wrote a letter to the Council of Fashion Designers of America condemning a number of big-name fashion houses for not casting models of color.
“Eyes are on an industry that season after season watches fashion design houses consistently use of one or no models of color. No matter the intention, the result is racism,” read the letter. “Not accepting another based on the color of their skin is clearly beyond ‘aesthetic’ when it is consistently 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.”
Join our lunchtime debate this Thursday at 12:00 p.m. for more on this hot topic.