Diversity on the Runway #NYFW

·         Blog Post #3 – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/diversity-nyfw_55fb139ae4b00310edf640e9 Diversity on the Runway #NYFW

            Last Fall heralded one of the biggest annual events held in New York City: New York Fashion Week 2015.  In an effort to bring more diversity to the runway, HuffPost Lifestyle launched the hashtag #NYFW4ALL, which encouraged inclusion of “all skins tones, genders, sizes, shapes and personalities.”   Over the course of the eight days leading up to this event, HuffPost Lifestyle strove to highlight runway shows that featured more body diversity, as well as the “unique struggles that face models of color,” and many more issues that are marginalized by the fashion industry.  The outcome proved relatively successful, with many runway shows making headlines for their diversified cast, which included women of plus-size, Down syndrome, and “role models,” whom were comprised of Olympic athletes, CEOs and speechwriters.  Natural hairstyles also made numerous appearances, as black and biracial models flaunted the runway with all different hair types and textures.  Pyer Moss founder and head designer Kerby Jean-Raymond opened his runway show with a short film, which depicted portrayals of police brutality on black men and women, and Harlem’s Fashion Row, an organization that fosters emerging designers of color, continued to champion black designers by featuring African designer Thulare Monareng, Bermuda-born designer Meagan S.E. Wellman, and Brooklyn-based Fe Noel, in their bi-annual show.  Trans designer Gogo Graham only used transgender male models in her runway show, which was held at the Ace Hotel on Thursday night.  Although the fashion industry has a long way to go, this is definitely a sign of progress in the making.