BOF Accused of Cultural Appropriation.
Music by: Leo Van Melody – Cocaine.
It’s CULTED with your 60-second fashion news.
On Monday night, the business of fashion 500 gala took place in Paris.
After the event Kerby Jean-Raymond, the founder and designer of Pyer Moss, accused Business of Fashion for using him to exploit black culture.
Jean-Raymond accused the founder of BOF – Imran Amed – for his treatment of black influencers and black culture, he said after “picking his brain for months” and saying “that he and his brand inspired the issue of diversity and inclusion”.
Amed failed to acknowledge Jean-Raymond during his speech at the gala, and instead chose to mention “bigger brands”.
In his long essay, Jean-Raymond says “homage without empathy and representation is appropriation”.
Fashion insiders like Phillip Lim and Virgil Abloh supported his post and Amed quickly responded saying “this topic is not a trend for me either” explaining his personal battles with inclusion being the son of “Muslim immigrants”.
He apologised to Kerby, and ended the letter saying he hoped they could “help bring people together”.
For some, this wasn’t an apology.
So, what do you guys think – does fashion use diversity and inclusion just as a trend?
Tell us what you think below!
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