For the July 2008 issue of Italian Vogue, one of today’s most influential American photographers, Steven Meisel, has chosen to photograph only models of African decent.
Even more impressive, all surrounding Italian Vogue features are related to black women in the arts and entertainment.
Could this fashion industry interest in diversity be in part the influence of Barack Obama prevailing as the Democratic Presidential Nominee?
"We are already seeing and feeling the effects of the overdue tide of CHANGE – right down to the uber-judgmental fashion industry," comments Marva Bradshaw, Account Manager with Cox Radio, on the controversy surrounding Obama and the July Italian Vogue issue.
"Here in Italy, everybody is crazy about Obama, even people who never talk about American politics. It’s the new way to see a country where something can always happen. It’s a young country and modern,” said Franca Sozzani, Italian Vogue Editor.
Day after day, I am increasingly convinced that the greatest impact the U.S. has on other cultures is our uncanny ability to influence, through the media. Our culture and way of life is always under a microscope and on a global scale, in the spot light of the camera lens.
Could this fashion industry interest in diversity be in part the influence of Barack Obama prevailing as the Democratic Presidential Nominee?
"We are already seeing and feeling the effects of the overdue tide of CHANGE – right down to the uber-judgmental fashion industry," comments Marva Bradshaw, Account Manager with Cox Radio, on the controversy surrounding Obama and the July Italian Vogue issue.
"Here in Italy, everybody is crazy about Obama, even people who never talk about American politics. It’s the new way to see a country where something can always happen. It’s a young country and modern,” said Franca Sozzani, Italian Vogue Editor.
Day after day, I am increasingly convinced that the greatest impact the U.S. has on other cultures is our uncanny ability to influence, through the media. Our culture and way of life is always under a microscope and on a global scale, in the spot light of the camera lens.
[From L to R: Liya Kebede, Sessilee Lopez, Jourdan Dunn and Naomi Campbell]
Models in the issue include: Tyra, Tocarra Jones, Iman, Naomi Campbell, Alek Wek, Liya Kebede, Pat Cleveland, Jourdan Dunn, Sessilee Lopez, Chanel Iman, Veronica Webb, and Karen Alexander.
"There was no hip-hop gangsterism, no ghetto fabulousness, no bling-bling clichés," said Edward Enniful, the stylists who worked on the shoot. "Meisel simply shot a beautiful story with one of the most important icons [Naomi] of this century."
The monumental issue hits newstands in Europe this Thursday, and will be available in the U.S. soon after...
Finally, art truly imitates life!
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