Just when you thought the Nivea ad was enough to inspire you to “Re-Civilize yourself,” leave it to Vogue Italia to glamorize slavery. Not sure how slavery and fashion are relatable but unfortunately, Vogue decided to make it work.
At the beginning of the month, Vogue Italia’s website featured an accessory highlight on “Slave Earrings,” a hoop inspired earring collection tagged with the phrase “a classic always in evolution.”
The product description reads:
“Jewellery has always flirted with circular shapes, especially for use in making earrings. The most classic models are the slave and creole styles in gold hoops.
If the name brings to the mind the decorative traditions of the women of colour who were brought to the southern Unites States during the slave trade, the latest interpretation is pure freedom. Colored stones, symbolic pendants and multiple spheres. And the evolution goes on.”
Vogue is no stranger with sparking discussions surrounding their work. Could Vogue have chosen a better image? Of course. However, they did not. This is another example of how beauty and fashion companies shoddily attempt to blur the lines between racism and artistic vision.
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In the past, the leading fashion & lifestyle conglomerate featured LeBron James and Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen inspired by King Kong, where the Black man is depicted as salvage and even domineering toward his white counterpart.
Then there was the time Vogue was motivated to ‘black face’ a white model. A few weeks ago, we had this discussion about the recent Summer’s Eve very race specific ads in their “Hail to the V” campaign. Then there was Dove with their creative model placement from dark to light– well before and after caption.
Unfortunately, we can’t stop talking about race in America. Something that identifies us but also makes us feel included has so much power. But it’s hard to over look blanketed examples like this. During an era where Blacks were held against their own will and deprived of basic human rights, doesn’t strike me as a catalyst for a feature.
We have no choice but to shake our heads. And this was just disgusting. Somehow companies will have to stop capitalizing on the struggles and oppression Blacks have experienced.
