was it all for nothing?

when the black issue of vogue italia dropped last summer it was like the summer blockbuster of the fashion world. it sold out everywhere hours after it arrived forcing the conde nast publication to print the magazine twice to meet up with the demands. after sesillee lopez's dynamic editorial she landed on the rankings of models.com and jourdan dunn's popularity increased even more. but the real test of this magazine was how casting directors were going to react when show season starts. well you be the judge. here's a list of some of the major collections with the amount of ethnic models used.

marc jacobs - 5 (3 black, 2 asian)
proenza schouler - 3 (3 black)
calvin klein - 1 (black)
narciso rodriguez - 4 (2 black, 2 asian)
ralph lauren - 6 (4 black, 1 asian, 1 indian)
burberry - 0
giorgio armani - 0
jil sander - 0
dolce and gabbana - 2 (1 black, 1 asian)
prada - 1 (black)
marni - 0
versace - 1 (black)
roberto cavalli - 2 (1 black, 1 asian)
gucci - 1 (black)
nina ricci - 0
balmain - 0
christian dior - 4 (3 black, 1 asian)
balenciaga - 1 (asian)
jean paul gaultier - 6 (3 black, 2 asian, 1 indian)
dries van noten - 6 (3 black, 3 asian)
givenchy - 1 (indian)
yves saint laurent - 1 (black)
alexander mcqueen - 4 (2 black, 2 asian)
chanel - 0
valentino - 1 (black)
chloe - 1 (asian)
john galliano - 3 (2 black, 1 asian)
louis vuitton - 5 (3 black, 2 asian)
lanvin - 3 (black)

considering vogue italia is from italy and the most influential fashion publication printed, you would think milan would've used more ethnic models. consider giorgio armani, one of, if possibly the most successful designer right now sent down 76 exits for his latest collection and not one was a model of colour. even though he had chinese model du juan as the face of his most recent campaign you would think she would at least be there to represent. same goes to stefano pilati who signed naomi campbell as the face of the newest ysl campaign but he only showed one black, and the only ethnic model down his runway. i would hate to think that all the attention brought about the july issue of vogue italia on the plight of ethnic representation on the catwalks was all hype. i for one was extremely disappointed with the lack coloured models on the runways. oh and just so you know, the indian model listed above was lakshmi menon. she was the only indian girl on all the big shows. how could a country with the second highest population and one of the fastest growing economies in the world only be represented by one lone individual in the fashion arena? is fashion racist? well you be the judge the next time flip through the pages of the next magazine you buy.