"OUT OF FASHION: The Absence of Color"

If you don't already know about this "town-hall" style dialogue on the issue of color and diversity in the field of fashion modeling, you should. I would recommend attendance at each of these events by anyone who honestly cares about the current state of the fashion industry. The forum, hosted by Bethann Hardison, is an open discussion on topics ranging from conscious and unconscious racism, to the lack of opportunities that exist based on "trends", and to myths and stereotypes that endure and strengthen without oversight. The fashion industry has long been a "self-policing" industry, free of bureaucratic committees and standards. This, of course, places the responsibility of maintaining an appropriate level of racial equality within our business into the hands of too few, very powerful, influential decision makers. Thank goodness, then, that panelists have included Lori Goldstein, James Scully, Nian Fish, and many other notable fashion players in the audience, many whose faces we've seen for over two decades now.

The world has become a very small place...smaller than ever. One can, without regard, video chat to India in real time, whilst listening to internet radio from London and/or composing an e-mail to Brazil that will arrive seconds after we've sent it. We're dealing with lots of colors and cultures and religions and philosophies every moment of every day. Globalization leads to media convergence, and when that happens, it is our responsibility to make sure the content is represented equitably. Models of every color should have more opportunities, not fewer. There is a creative renaissance that is beginning to take hold, and wise marketers will be those who forget sales strategies, and begin building equity with consumers. Of every color.