Model Jillian Mercado at New York Fashion Week. Image via Twitter @jilly_peppa
Five ways the fashion industry became more inclusive in 2020
The industry embraced plus-size models, people with disabilities, anti-ageism campaigns and gender-fluid fashion.
Model Jillian Mercado at New York Fashion Week. Image via Twitter @jilly_peppa
The fashion industry is notorious for the restrictive standards and ideals expected from its models, and diversity and representation have not always been evident. However, 2020 was a year of far greater inclusivity and change.
Here are five ways the fashion industry became more inclusive in 2020.
DISABLED MODEL AT NEW YORK FASHION WEEK
Model and founder of Black Disabled Creatives, Jillian Mercado is one of the few physically disabled models in the fashion industry. In February 2020, she made her runway debut for New York Fashion Week in The Blonds’ Fall 2020 show.
She wore a glam gold jumpsuit with matching gold headdress, and graced the runway in her wheelchair.
LINGERIE BRAND KNIX’S ANTI-AGEISM CAMPAIGN
In March 2020, lingerie brand Knix confronted ageism in the fashion industry with its anti-ageism campaign. The industry is known for wanting to showcase young, fresh faces, and lingerie lines do not typically feature older women.
Knix celebrated International Women’s Day with a campaign of women over 50 embracing their bodies at every stage of life.
PLUS-SIZE MODELS ON VERSACE RUNWAY
Three models made history for being the first plus-size models to walk Donatella Versace’s runway at Milan Fashion Week in September 2020.
Jill Kortleve, Alva Claire and Precious Lee lived out a dream not many plus-size models were previously able to. The models were dressed in colourful outfits for the under-the-sea themed collection and followed the dewy skin trend for their looks.
RIHANNA’S SAVAGE X FENTY SHOW VOL 2
Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty Show Vol 2 took place in October 2020. The models in the show are different sizes and ethnicities, but to take the inclusivity a step further Rihanna added a menswear collection modelled by Big Sean and Christian Combs.
The Diamonds hitmaker included drag stars such as Gigi Goode and Shea Coulee in the show as well as non-binary models such as Indya Moore.
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GENDERLESS FASHION
Genderless fashion is on the rise and so are genderless clothing retailers. English singer Harry Styles supported this by wearing a Gucci dress on the December 2020 cover of American Vogue, which stirred an uproar.
However, Styles stuck to his guns and defended his outfit choices. According to Variety, he said:
“To not wear [something] because it’s females’ clothing, you shut out a whole world of great clothes. And I think what’s exciting about right now is you can wear what you like. It doesn’t have to be X or Y. Those lines are becoming more and more blurred.”
Styles’s former band member Liam Payne defended his outfit choice in an interview on Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp.
HOMEGROWN INTERNATIONAL FASHION HIGHLIGHTS OF 2020
Cape Town-based designer Sindiso Khumalo debuted a fashion film at Milan Fashion Week in February 2020, and Durban model Xia Narain walked the runway at London Fashion Week in September 2020, bumping shoulders with some of the biggest names in the biz, like Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner.
READ MORE HERE: ‘Dopamine shot’: Durban model walks in London Fashion Week, features in Vogue
