Voices In Color

Black Is Finally In Fashion At Vogue

It's an open secret in the fashion industry: black models rarely get jobs on catwalks, in magazines and on billboards. According to executives, they do not inspire women to spend money.

Apart from Naomi Campbell in one Louis Vuitton advertisement this season, it would be difficult to find a single black model in a prominent position in a magazine. Carole White of the Premier Model Agency says she has received casting briefs requesting "no ethnics" and adds: "According to magazines, black models don't sell."

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."

Read more: The Independent

I'm In Love: Prada Fairy Bag

LeBron Shrugs Off Criticism Of Vogue Cover

I actually liked this cover…

LeBron James has done lots of magazine covers and heard lots of criticism for various things in the past five years. So he's brushing off the heat he's getting about his most recent close up.

James made a measure of history when he made the cover of Vogue's April issue alongside supermodel Gisele Bundchen. He was just the third male in the history of the publication to make the cover and the first African-American male.

But after the photo hit newsstands, some thought that his pose and facial expression gave off a poor impression. The most vocal was an ESPN.com columnist who said James resembled King Kong cradling a ''fair-skinned love interest.'' The writer said James ''looks like he's on his way to a pickup game for serial killers'' and was an example of ''a black athlete being reduced to a savage.''

James, who was aware of the story, shrugged off the comments.

''I was just having fun with it, I was just showing a little emotion,'' James said Saturday. ''We had a few looks and that was the best one we had. Everything my name is on is going to be criticized, in a good way or a bad way. Who cares, honestly, at the end of the day.''

Read more: Ohio.com

I’m in Love: Interior Decorator Antoinette Loupé

I loved this month’s issue of Domino mag, which featured “the Domino 10”. It’s their second annual roundup of the 10 soon-to-be hottest interior decorators across the country. My favorite was Antoinette Loupé. Her mix of old and new combined with soothing neutrals and an ethnic touch was inspiring, and right up my alley.

You can check her out in the mag, or on her site.

Karl Kani Teams With Saks For New Clothing Line

Designer Karl Kani has created a new upscale men's line that will be sold exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue stores nationwide.

The new Kani Kouture, which combines contemporary fashion and streetwear, was unveiled on March 11th during a fashion show hosted by the designer as part of the Mercedes-Benz LA Fashion Week.

Read more: AllHipHop.com

Photographer Builds Black Greeting Cards Line

There were no broad noses crinkled in laughter. No muscular mocha arms holding newborns close. No giggling girls running through a field of daisies as their plaits flop in the breeze.

Robin McNeil, 38, of Loganville wanted everything to be perfect for her husband's first Father's Day — especially the card.

"I knew what I wanted to see — an African-American man being a dad, but I didn't see any African-Americans at all," she said. "I didn't see pencil art, I didn't see graphics. That's when I thought, 'This is ridiculous.' I refused to buy anything else."

So that Father's Day in 2003, McNeil, a photographer, decided to leave the cards at the supermarket and make a card of her own. She flipped through her collection of photographs for an image that seemed just right — a black dad walking hand-in-hand with his daughter.

She attached the picture to cardstock paper and printed a personal Father's Day card.

It was the first in a collection the stay-at-home Loganville mother of two would soon design. Her greeting cards, Reflections of Us, now sell in stores in the Atlanta area, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, and online at www.reflectionsofus.net.

Read more: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Oprah Winfrey Opens Her First Retail Store In The US

It’s already been dubbed the O-Mart.

Chat show queen Oprah Winfrey has opened her first retail store in the US.

The 5,500 square-foot shop, in the heart of Chicago, features hundreds of items representing her style.

It is filled with inspirational and informative books, comfortable clothes and goods bearing Winfrey’s trademark “O” - including velour tracksuits with the “O” zipper. Among the book on sale are titles by poet Maya Angelou and diet doctor Mehmet Oz.

“It’s a specialty store full of merchandise that represents the style and taste Oprah celebrates and shares on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show,’ ” her publicist said in a statement.

“The interior was created to evoke a loft-like urban feel with exposed ceiling along with the extensive use of bamboo wood, brushed metals and green chocolate-flaked marble.”

Read more: Showbizspy

All Black Models for Sean John's Fashion Week Runway

MediaTakeOut.com told you last week that Sean "Diddy" Combs would be hiring only African American models for his Sean John Fall fashion show - and that's exactly what he did. Check out the photos below of Diddy's full line.

To end the show, Diddy even brought out model Tyson Beckford. The two had been feuding over a lawsuit filed nearly a year ago.

Given the number of prominent fashion designers who refuse to hire African American models in fashion shows around the world - we think it was a courageous move for Diddy. Who knew he had it in him....

Source: mediatakeout.com

Handbags From Designers On Etsy

Last week the New York Times declared that “It” designer bags were over. I say thank goodness. Why not wear a bag that’s a one-of-a-kind? Like these cuties from etsy.com. Click image to enlarge.

Jill Scott Lands Joint Venture Deal With Ashley Stewart Stores

2008 three time (3) Grammy nominee and Multi-platinum, two-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist, singer- songwriter, poet, actor and philanthropist Jill Scott is stacked for success as she enters into an exclusive joint venture between her firm J Heather Inc. and Ashley Stewart Stores the nation wide specialty chain with 220 stores.

The initial product line developed in the partnership will be called "The Butterfly Collection By Jill Scott", a new brand of intimate apparel for the plus-size woman. The entire clothing line be personally inspired and designed by Jill Scott, in conjunction with Ashley Stewart whose name and image will be utilized in all marketing and merchandising concepts.

Read more: emergingminds.org