Black supermodels say fashion is racist

Saturday Sep 15 15:00 AEST

By ninemsn staff

Some of the world's top black supermodels are banding together to put pressure on the fashion industry, which they say has become increasingly racist in the past decade.

Naomi Campbell, Iman and Tyson Beckford were among those who launched the campaign against race discrimination at a rally in New York, The Guardian reported.

They were joined by models, designers and other fashion industry luminaries, who said they intended to pressure the fashion industry into acknowledging the problem.

Ms Campbell reportedly said she could no longer get on the cover of British Vogue, and had only snagged the cover of French Vogue after designer Yves Saint Laurent threatened to cut off his company from the magazine.

"Do I still want to be on the cover of British Vogue? Absolutely I do," Ms Campbell said.

"It's not because I don't sell, because I do sell — more than many of my white counterparts."

Several other speakers at the event said the fashion industry was increasingly closed to African-Americans.

"The rules have become stricter. When I first started in the business, a beautiful model of any colour could be on the cover," Ivan Bart, vice-president of IMG models, said.

The event was organised by former model and agency owner Bethann Hardison, who helped launch Ms Campbell's career.

The participants are reportedly intending to hold monthly meetings to maintain pressure on the industry.

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