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London embraces diversity on the catwalk
By Emma Sells | Posted: Mon 21 Sep 2009
There’s a new trend hitting the London catwalks – models of all shapes, sizes and colours.
Over the past few seasons the world of fashion has been embracing all things 1980s, and over the weekend we noticed a trend towards an attitude that epitomised the decade – diversity and individuality. Though there has of course been the usual array of familiar waif-like models hitting the catwalks, some of the more forward-thinking designers have opted for a different look – Mark Fast cast three average sized models, the Sykes collection was presented on models of a wide range of ages (up to age 70), and PPQ’s line-up was made up of exclusively black girls.
This variety on the catwalk follows hot on the heels of the launch of new fashion initiative, ‘All Walks Beyond The Catwalk’, established by Caryn Franklin (who championed diversity in the 1980s with her magazine i-D). Franklin believes that in order to change the shape of fashion, young designers have to be encouraged to have an inclusive attitude early in their careers. With that in mind, she enlisted the likes of William Tempest, Hannah Marshall, Mark Fast and David Koma to have their latest collections photographed on models aged between 18 and 65 and sized 8 to 16, and the resulting pictures were revealed in an exhibition at Somerset House on Friday. In fact it was his involvement in the project that inspired Mark Fast to use the larger models in his show.
While most have applauded the change it has not been without controversy. Rumour has it that when Mark Fast made a last minute decision on Friday to use the voluptuous girls both his stylist and casting director walked out.
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