8 Fashion Industry Diversity Wins in 2018
For years, diversity has been a hot topic in the fashion industry. Designers, editors, executives, and other fashion industry insiders have petitioned for more diverse runways, campaigns, and magazine spreads to accurately reflect the people that make up the world. It appears that some industry members' tireless push for inclusivity and diversity is finally being recognized. Over the past few months of 2018, there have been a number of firsts that smashed major barriers in the industry, including Virgil Abloh's historic appointment as the first black artistic director of Louis Vuitton Menswear and photographer Tyler Mitchell becoming the first black person to photograph a U.S. Vogue cover.
Yet, despite these major accomplishments, there's still a lot of work to be done. The ability to continue this momentum into 2019 and beyond is extremely important, and at this point, a necessity. Ahead, from 2018, 10 exciting strides in the fashion industry's movement toward greater diversity.
Tyler Mitchell1/11Tyler Mitchell Becomes First Black Person to Photograph "Vogue" Cover
Photographer Tyler Mitchell made headlines this year for being the first black person to photograph a Vogue cover in the magazine's 125-year history. Tyler was handpicked by September cover star Beyoncé, who spoke in the issue about the importance of supporting other black artists. Tyler is not only the first black photographer; at 23, he is also the youngest photographer to shoot a Vogue cover.
Getty Images2/11Brenna Huckaby Becomes First Amputee to Appear in "Sports Illustrated"'s Swimsuit Issue
This year, snowboarder Brenna Huckaby became the first amputee to pose for Sports Illustrated's popular Swimsuit Issue. Following her gold-medal-winning snowboarding performance at the 2018 Winter Paralympics, Brenna made another unforgettable impression by starring in SI's bikini beach spread. The 23-year-old also walked in the magazine's annual swimsuit show during Miami Swim Week.
Getty Images3/11Designer Marco Marco's NYFW Show Featured an All-Transgender Roster
Designer-underwear brand Marco Marco made headlines in September after debuting its latest collection during NYFW using only transgender models. The brand also made history by featuring the most transgender men ever on a single NYFW runway. Of the 34 models, superstars Geena Rocero, Laith Ashley, Carmen Carrera, Aydian Dowling and Arisce Wanzer all made appearances, along with Pose stars Dominique Jackson and Angelica Ross.
Getty Images4/11Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Lingerie Show Was a Master Class in Diversity
Rihanna made another successful push for diversity with this year's debut Savage x Fenty fashion show. Women of different shapes, sizes, and colors participated in the animated fashion presentation, which featured pieces from the singer's new lingerie line. Not only were Rihanna's models diverse, the lingerie pieces appeared in a wide range of sizes and styles.
Getty Images5/11Pyer Moss Designer Kerby Jean-Raymond Wins CFDA Fashion Fund Prize
This year, Pyer Moss designer Kerby Jean-Raymond became the third black male designer to win the highly coveted CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. This accomplishment was even more notable because of the winning collection's activist and pro-black theme, including graphic shirts featuring the words "Stop Calling 911 on the Culture." Pyer Moss also made headlines for dressing CFDA Awards host Issa Rae in a much-buzzed-about long blue sequin gown, with a belt that read "Every Ni**a Is A Star."
Getty Images6/11Taofeek Abijako Becomes Youngest Designer to Show at New York Fashion Week Men's
During New York Fashion Week Men's, Nigerian designer Taofeek Abijako, founder of menswear brand Head of State+, became the youngest designer to showcase a collection at the event. Just 19, Taofeek debuted Genesis, his fourth collection for the brand. He has also become one of the youngest stockists to appear on the racks at some of high fashion's biggest retailers.
Camila Falquez7/11Three Models With Disabilities Grace "Teen Vogue"'s September Cover
Teen Vogue dedicated its digital September cover to highlighting the careers and stories of three models with disabilities. Models Chelsea Werner, Jillian Mercado, and Mama Cax appeared on three separate covers of the magazine, a first for the fashion publication. Each of the featured models broke several barriers this year, including appearing in fashion campaigns for major brands.
Getty Images8/11Virgil Abloh Named Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton Men's
Another black male designer who made headlines in 2018 was Off-White founder Virgil Abloh. In March, Virgil was named the new men's artistic director of Louis Vuitton, a position that had never been held by a black person. His appointment also made him one of the few black designers to head a major luxury European heritage brand. For his debut Louis Vuitton show in Paris, Virgil included a diverse cast of models, including Playboi Carti, Steve Lacy, A$AP Nast, Dev Hynes, and Kid Cudi.
9/11Women of Color Dominate Fashion Magazine Covers
According to a report by Fashionista, it was a great year for diversity on the newsstands. The site reviewed nine major U.S. fashion magazines and found that 48.4% of their covers starred people of color, a 17% increase from 2017. The report also found that in September 2018 alone, 54.5% of the highly coveted September-issue covers featured women of color, an impressive 32.3% increase from the year before.
Getty Images10/11Christopher Bailey Honors LGBTQ People at Final Burberry Show
For his last show as the creative director of Burberry, designer Christopher Bailey used his platform to advocate for the rights and visibility of LGBTQ people. Christopher sent long fur coats and puffer vests down the runway patterned after the rainbow colors of the pride flag. Burberry has also dedicated resources to donating money for organizations that seek to empower LGBTQ people.
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