Fashion Industry Breaking Past The Traditional Model

Photo Credit: NEW YORK TIMES

The Fashion Industry is beginning to break past the traditional model

With a new generation of young aspiring designers on the rise the fashion industry has begun to change their ways by moving past the traditional 'model material'

After 75 years of models being 6 feet tall, and thin the industry has finally broke the mold. At New York Spring 2018 Fashion Week, patrons saw the most diverse group of models on a runway. Not only was there racial diversity, but also a greater amount of plus size, transgender, non-binary, and over 50 more representational models.

The Fashion Spot released a Diversity Report from Spring 2018 New York Fashion Week. After having surveyed over 90 shows, and 2,000 models the report undeniably showed that this has been the most diverse season yet.

This season was by far the most racially diverse cast of models. According to The Fashion Spot this season 36.9% of models were of color. Over the past three years the number has grown by 16%. Along with each runway show having at least two models of color.

Photo Credit: CR Fashion Book

Along with racial diversity, there was also a growing amount of plus-size models. While Paris, and Milan have yet to incorporate body diversity, New York has chosen to promote positive body images amongst their followers. At New York Fashion Week, 3.46% of models were plus size, which is equivalent to 90 models. This was an exceptional improvement from Fall 2017 New York Fashion Week with only 26 plus size models.

Along with body, and racial diversity also came gender diversity. At the Spring/Summer 2018 Fashion week in New York, according to The Fashion Spot there were 31 transgender women, and non-binary model appearances across 29 different runways. As compared to last season with only 12 castings.

Another significant diversity amongst the runways would be the age. Women over 50 years old were better represented at the Spring 2018 shows. There was a total of 10 appearances with women in their 50's, and 60's at New York Spring/Summer 2018 Fashion Week.

The brands that embraced the diversity during fashion week according to The Fashion Spot were Torrid, Helmut Lang, Marc Jacobs, Tracy Reese, Christian Siriano, Desigual, Tome and Chromat.


Credit:
"Diversity Report: Every Runway at New York Fashion Week featured at Least 2 Models of Color for Spring 2018." TheFashionSpot, 20 Nov. 2017, www.thefashionspot.com/runway-news

Saltzman, Stephanie. "The New York Fashion Week Spring 2018 Runways Were More Diverse Than Ever." Fashionista, 21 Sept. 2017, fashionista.com