Brad M | Media

From June 7th to 9th, the British Fashion Council unveiled an exciting program for London Fashion Week 📆

This event provided a much-needed platform for diverse creatives, celebrating the intersection of artistic expression and cultural progress.

• Day 1: Celebration of Culture Exhibition 📸

I had the privilege of attending London Fashion Week’s Celebration of Culture exhibition, which spotlighted the work of three incredible photographers: Stephen Akinyemi, Tami Aftab, and Dani D’Ingeo.

– Stephen Akinyemi: His powerful photography celebrated the Black experience and identity, capturing the richness and diversity within the Black community.
– Tami Aftab: Through her lens, British Asian designers shared their unique stories, woven into the fabric and textiles of their heritage.
– Dani D’Ingeo: Documenting intertwined queer lives, their work authentically represented the queer, non-binary, and trans+ community, focusing on inspiration and muse Inès Michelotto.

• Day 2: Panel Talks on Diversity in Fashion 🎙️

On the second day I attended two pivotal panel discussions on diversity in the fashion industry.

– Panel 1: Hosted by Maliha Shoaib, with insights from Simran Randhawa, Lea Ogunlami, and Darkwah.

They discussed authenticity, the challenges of palatability, and the lack of representation. A critical question posed was, “Are brands casting a community that exists, or an idea of a community they think exists?”

– Panel 2: “Are we going far enough? Performative activism in the fashion industry” was led by Kemi-Olivia Alemoru featuring James Corbin, Munroe Bergdorf, and Victoria Jenkins. This panel delved into activism related to representation, sustainability, and the political implications of queer issues and world issues such as anti-war activism.

The conversation highlighted the need for structural changes to combat performative activism and foster tangible progress.

These discussions around diversity, equity, and inclusion deeply resonated with me and echoed the sentiments and insights industry leaders shared during their talks with The Outsiders Perspective.

While London leads the charge in fostering these crucial conversations, the consensus remains clear: there is still much work to be done at all levels to achieve true diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability 🌱

Now, more than ever, it is vital to keep these conversations alive to create meaningful change.