Fashion designer Stella Jean is asking the Italian National Fashion Chamber and the global powerhouses steering it, including Prada, Ferragamo and Zegna, to back their social media pledges supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. Photo: AP
She asked the Italian National Fashion Chamber and the global powerhouses steering it, including Prada, Ferragamo and Zegna, to back their social media pledges supporting the Black Lives Matter movement with concrete, transparent commitments toward greater racial diversity. ‘’When you talk with them, they have no bad intentions, I know them. But they say something like 'What are you talking about, Stella? We have never heard about racism in Italy. It is not an Italian story, it is about the US, the UK, other countries. Not Italy',’’ Jean said.
Racially charged gaffes by Italian fashion houses have been well-documented, from Gucci’s Blackface sweater to Prada’s Little Black Sambo bag charm to Dolce & Gabbana videos that were seen by many as mocking Asians. But they say those gaffes highlight the lack of diversity in Italian fashion houses and the"pervasive racism and prejudice’’ in the industry despite ‘’significant funds allocated to provide sensitive training.’’"These ‘mistakes’ can be better recognised, labeled and addressed as ‘decisions', ” Jean asserts.