Models backstage at Ports 1961 Spring 2021; Image: Imaxtree
We knew pulling off fashion weeks in New York, London, Milan and Paris would be tough during a pandemic. With safety protocols and alternative showcases like lookbooks and videos, the fashion world managed to get it done. Now the diversity numbers are in and, frankly, they’re not great. A bit surprising given all the calls for equality in the industry. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge the ongoing health crisis as a contributing factor. Not that it excuses the lack of any real progress on all the diversity fronts. We can and must do better.
RACE
First, let’s give credit where credit is due. The Spring 2021 season saw a very slight increase in the number of nonwhite model appearances. It went up from 40.6 percent in Fall 2020 to 41.3 percent this time around. In other words, less than one percentage point. But we must look at the minor jump in context. For Fall 2020, there were 6,879 total model castings across…