Pensées #4:Diversity in Casting

I'm all for diversity and inclusion in fashion. I think it's great that brands are trying to represent different types of people and bodies on their runways and campaigns. I applaud initiatives like Vogue's Open Casting, which aims to discover and nurture new talent from across the globe with a focus on size.usivity. I also admire agencies like Zebedee, which specializes in inclusive talent management for models with disabilities and visible differences.

But sometimes I wonder if the intent behind these efforts is to sell clothes or to promote a social agenda. I've seen models in shows who were just plain unattractive to the degree that they were a distraction from the garment. I've seen emaciated male models that looked like adolescents modeling clothes intended for mature men. Keeping it real, a person shouldn't have to try to unsee the model in order to appreciate the garment. It's my belief that a model should embody the ideal client.

Clothing is a nonverbal means of communicating identity and it helps to make a statement about age, gender, social class, school affiliation and more. That reality can't just be summarily dismissed. I believe marketing has become much more about social engineering and politics than the product itself and that inclusive strategies can have a positive impact as well as negative repercussions on engagement and brand performance.

When casting, I look at individuals who appear approachable, attractive images evoke feelings of desire, aspiration, nostalgia and fantasy,but not stuck up, or maybe the situation calls for that. images evoke feelings of desire, aspiration, nostalgia and fantasy. I believe that's all possible without resorting to the spectrum of "attractiveness' that's not attractive that the garments integrity is compromised.

I'm not suggesting that diversity and inclusion are bad things. I'm saying that they should be done with care and respect for the product and the customer. I'm saying that they should be done with authenticity and integrity, not as a token gesture or a trend. I'm saying that they should be done with balance and harmony, not as a way of creating controversy or division.

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with me? Let me know in the comments below. And don't forget to subscribe to my blog for more fashion insights and opinions.

Diversity, Inclusion and Confusion