Supermodel Naomi Campbell opens Paris Haute Couture Week with call for inclusivity

Supermodel Naomi Campbell opened Paris Haute Couture Week with a video message as the fashion week goes digital.

For the first time ever, Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode will host videos on their platform from today (6 July) till 8 July. There is a schedule that press, buyers and fans can follow, that mimics a physical Fashion Week.

In her video message, Campbell said, “The fight for equality and for diversity has been a long journey in society and in the fashion industry.

“Today in 2020, we still have a long way to go and the time has come to collectively call the fashion world to task, regarding inequality in our workspaces and in our industry.

“Nelson Mandela said, action without vision is only passing time. Vision without action is merely daydreaming. But vision with action can change the world.

“A powerful sense of urgency has been spoken out loud around the world, with the Black Lives Matter movement,” Campbell said. “This is a call for action that we are making, as we hope this is a conversation that is starting now and will last as long as it is needed. It is up to us. It is up to you to start enforcing inclusion of the multitude of identities that compose our countries.

“The time has come to build a more equitable industry with a good form of checks and balances. It is now more than ever compulsory to include them in a permanent way, and not a transient one. It is time to have regular sustainable conversations with minorities, from each country and culture, who are already invisible actors of this mega industry.

“It starts now in France. I am Naomi Campbell. And I declare Paris Couture Fashion Week. Merci.”

For fans who are interested to catch the show, here is the online schedule (in Paris time).