Fashion insiders like Bryanboy and Jason Bolden are calling out French brand Celine and its creative director Hedi Slimane for its Black Lives Matter post given the lack of Black models featured on its shows, especially since Slimane's tenure started in 2018.
On June 2, otherwise known as #BlackOutTuesday, the brand posted an Instagram in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. “Celine stands against all forms of discrimination, oppression and racism. Tomorrow's world will not exist without equality for all,” the brand wrote in the image and caption, adding the Black Lives Matter hashtag to the latter.
Shortly after the post went live, stylist Jason Bolden, who dresses celebs like Yara Shahidi and Janet Mock, commented on the post, writing, "Wait really, you guys don't dress any Black celebs unless they have a white stylist. FACTS."
Fashion watchdog account Diet Prada screen-grabbed Bolden's comment and shared it in a post, arguing that both Celine and Hedi Slimane have fallen very short in promoting diversity on the runway. According to Diet Prada, in spring 2019, only 6% of Celine's models were Black, and in fall 2020, just 9%, which means there's a serious lack in diversity on Celine's runways and campaigns. This is something that's made even more evident with a quick scroll through the brand's IG page.
Instagram content
Fashion blogger Bryanboy, who has been in the fashion scene for over a decade, also took to social media to share his feelings about Celine's post. He made a TikTok, which he also shared to his Instagram
Instagram content
Bryanboy also shared another TikTok of Slimane's models, none of which are Black. "Did I lie tho? ... Just a reminder - don’t fall for the symbolic reactive tarp," he wrote. "Not just from Celine but for any major brand with empty promises. Check the track record and the changes they’ve done recently. It’s 2020." Bryan wrote in the video, "Seriously though. He's allergic to non-white people."
Instagram content
Jason and Bryanboy aren't the only fashion insiders who found Celine's post empty and meaningless. Model Adwoa Aboah commented on Diet Prada's post, writing, "Call them all out. This is the way we have been treated by so many brands for far too long."
Celine has not yet addressed these concerns publicly. Teen Vogue reached out to the brand for comment and a rep told us “there is no comment at this time.”
Let us slide into your DMs. Sign up for the Teen Vogue daily email.
Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out:
Virgil Abloh Apologized for Looting Comments and $50 Donation
Munroe Bergdorf Called Out L’Oréal Paris for Hypocritical Black Lives Matter Post
Resonance Announces New Fashion Fund for US-Based Black Designers
