Another example of cultural tone deafness - YouLookFab Forum

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Another example of cultural tone deafness

nuancedream

Veteran

Ok, it's 2020 and here's another egregious example of cultural tone deafness. Brava to Amy Lefevre for refusing to wear those grotesque, racist and highly offensive accessories. Shame on the designer and the Fashion Institute of Technology for such poor judgment!

https://thegrio.com/2020/02/16.....hion-week/

General

18 replies

Latest reply was from Inge

The Cat

Veteran

I am speechless.

Kari

Veteran

Yiiiiikes.

rachylou

Veteran

Uh, what is going on the world of fashion? How many times have we seen this same thing with the lips? Does this have some other meaning to fashion folks?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Good grief

Good for model Amy to stand her ground and refuse!

nuancedream

Veteran

Gucci took a lot of heat several years ago for a blackface sweater and Dolce & Gabbana also got considerable bad press for an advertisement mocking a Chinese woman for eating oversize Italian food with chopsticks. The fashion world is no stranger to pushing the envelope, but doing it by baiting race issues is completely unacceptable.

Kari

Veteran

How are we STILL at the place where folks don’t understand not to use racial caricatures in products?

(And FWIW I know someone who works in design for a big company and before anything launches, they have a team who reviews designs for inadvertent problems like this that are much more subtle - like lip and eye shape and color, and in reference to where in the world it’s being launched. If designers aren’t doing this, or doing it well, it’s because they don’t care. The resources exist.)

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What is WITH these designers???? Honestly -- what is going ON?

So pleased this young model stood her ground and refused.

cindysmith

Veteran

What I really want to say is unfit to print, so I'll go with WTH?

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I hope someone gets in trouble for this at FIT. It makes you wonder how many times models with less courage than Amy have backed down under the pressure to just ____ . Very many is my assumption.

Eliza

Veteran

Stunning in a horrible way. I hope those involved are held accountable. Glad the refusal to participate made the news.

Appreciate the share.

kkards

Veteran

i have many things to say, but won't because this is not the place...but i will say that given the theme of this show... it appears the professors and other assorted leaders missed a prime teachable moment.

Ninety-plus looks by 10 alumni from FIT’s inaugural Master of Fine Arts class in Fashion Design walked the runway. The designs speak to the skill and craftsmanship of the designers and reflect the highly personal stories and histories embedded in their work. Garments not only depicted a visual future for the fashion world, but spoke to topics that concern the larger industry—including gender roles, sustainability, smart fabrics, inclusivity, and more.
.
https://news.fitnyc.edu/2020/0.....yfw-debut/

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ugh. Did they not pay attention to Gucci and D&G?

RobinF

Veteran

Wow, that is just so unacceptable. Good for the model for standing her ground.

Ginger

Veteran

I'm trying to understand... was this actually a designer show? As in, designs that are available for purchase? Or is it a SHOW show for exhibition only, put on by FIT? To Kari's point, there's absolutely a team that reviews designs of any kind for issues just like this for any retail company. This seems like a first time effort for FIT, though. Being an educational institution, they may not have formalized the kind of reviews they should have. That really makes it worse, though.

Bijou

Veteran

It makes you wonder if the designer did it to get publicity, it is just disgraceful.

nemosmom

Veteran

What the actual $%^&?!? I have no words. Well, I have words, but I certainly won't utter them here. Ugh.

Helena

Veteran

Disgusting.

Inge

(website)

What is wrong with people?!!-((((