Fashion: The Battle Continues

14 Sep 2019

How can the industry better represent diverse identities, both on and off the catwalk? A panel featuring designer Ozwald Boateng and model Bethann Hardison considers.

From the Black is Beautiful movement to the Battle of Versailles, designer Patrick Kelly’s admission into the Paris elite and Vogue Italia’s ‘All Black’ issue: notable black pioneers have shifted the fashion industry to include their aesthetic.

But how far do we still have to go? From what cloth is black fashion now cut?

With a career spanning three decades, Ozwald Boateng’s instinctive use of colour, cut and fabric fuses traditional classic British tailoring with a high end modern design. His name is synonymous with originality and is recognised across genres, from catwalk to film set, to non-profit foundations. A true powerhouse.

Chairing the discussion, iconic model and activist Bethann Hardison has graced the covers of Allure, Essence, Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue, set up the Black Girls Coalition (providing advocacy and support to African American models), become a PR powerhouse, a TV producer and a Frederick Douglass Award recipient.

This event is presented in association with Indaba X.

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