Fashionista was first to break the story:

Steven Meisel has just shot an entire issue of Vogue Italia with all black models, hoping that other issues of Vogue start to diversify their own portfolios.

The Independent confirms it in an article that does not shy from discussing the obvious and shameful discrimination in the fashion industry.

The leading British photographer Nick Knight says: “The fashion industry and the advertising industry are steeped in racism. You just have to look around at the number of black girls you see in ads – virtually nil. Among the main fashion brands, they are completely under-represented. It’s shocking and atrocious.”

Mr Knight blames business people at the top of the industry. A common attitude among them, he says, is that black models are “not aspirational” or “don’t sell in Asia”. He goes on: “I have tried to redress the balance. It is enormously important to use black models and models of different ethnic backgrounds.”

Now a counterattack to the racism of the fashion industry is coming from an unlikely source: Vogue Italia. The July issue of the fearsomely cutting-edge quarterly will feature black models almost exclusively, shot by the photographer Steven Meisel.

Franca Sozzani, editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia, told The Independent on Sunday: “We are using a lot of black models, like Iman, not only the models of today – a lot of different girls.” Asked why she had decided to do this, she said: “Because nobody is using black girls. I see so many beautiful girls and they were complaining that they are not used enough.”

Ms Sozzani admitted the issue could yet prove to be unpopular among some in Italy, where the xenophobic Northern League is part of the new coalition led by Silvio Berlusconi: “Maybe in our country it is not the best idea. But I don’t care. I think it is not my problem if they don’t like it – it’s their problem.”

Source: Black is finally in fashion at Vogue

Pictured is supermodel Jourdan Dunn who will appear in the upcoming issue of Vogue Italia.
Photo credit: Style.com

See also:

• Dunn Making History
• ‘Why are the catwalks so white?‘

Vogue Italia’s History-Making July Issue Will Feature All Black Models