Italian fashion house Etro is slammed for inviting NO black influencers to its Milan show and just one who is non-white – and Naomi Campbell insists it ‘has to stop’
- Etro debuted 2021 menswear collection at Milan Fashion Week show yesterday
- Brand called out on Instagram after sharing portraits of influencers on Stories
- Showed 24 influencers that attended show – only one of which was non-white
Italian fashion house Etro has been slammed for appearing to invite no black influencers to its Milan Fashion Week show.
Yesterday its showcase of its 2021 menswear collection – which was entirely produced in Italy and was predominantly bohemian in character – was the first physical show held in front of a non-virtual audience since the Covid-19 lockdown.
Held at the Milan Four Seasons Hotel, the event was attended by around 80 guests, with social distancing in full force.
On its Instagram Stories, Etro shared portraits of 24 influencers which were invited to attend, only one of which was non-white – Bryan Grey Yambao, also known as Bryanboy, a Filipino fashion blogger and socialite.
On its Instagram Stories, Etro shared portraits of 24 influencers (pictured) which were invited to attend – only one of which was non-white
The brand was called out for its lack of diversity on Instagram, with Naomi Campbell commenting she is ‘sick’ of this issue in the fashion industry.
A post shared on the @diet_prada Instagram account, which regularly calls out influencers in the fashion industry for plagiarism and other behaviour, read: ‘Fashion is getting back to normal after the grinding halt of COVID.
‘Etro’s Milan show is the first fashion show with a full audience. Around 80 attended, 24 of whom were influencers featured in portraits on Etro’s Instagram story.
‘Of those 24, there was only one influencer of color (@byranboycom) Several had come to Milan from other parts of Europe, so what’s the excuse for not having a single black influencer?’
The only non-white influencer who was pictured in Etro’s Instagram Stories was Bryan Grey Yambao, also known as Bryanboy, a Filipino fashion blogger and socialite
A post (pictured) shared on the @diet_prada Instagram account, which regularly calls out influencers in the fashion industry for plagiarism and other behaviour, criticised the lack of BAME influencers in attendance
There was, however, a greater variety of ethnicities when it came to Etro’s models.
Speaking to Vogue Runway, Veronica Etro stressed the racial diversity of the catwalk, saying its casting was ‘as if many different provenances were checking into the hotel, with their unique stories to tell and their wealth of memories and experience to share’.
Each look was reportedly styled uniquely and tailored to its model’s personality.
The diet_prada post stated: ‘If brands want to authentically communicate their values of diversity and inclusion, it needs to show at all levels, not just in model casting, which is basically standard now.
The brand was called out for its lack of diversity on Instagram, with Naomi Campbell commenting she is ‘sick’ of this issue in the fashion industry
‘Boardrooms, influencers, guests, and properly acknowledged cultural references are part of a picture that could reflect the diversity of inspirations incorporated into the brand’s “aesthetic”.’
FEMAIL has reached out to Etro for comment.
The diet_prada post notched up nearly 20,000 likes, with many of its followers expressing their frustration at what they felt was a ‘disappointing’ missed opportunity in the wake of the growing Black Lives Matter movement.
One commented: ‘Honestly diversity and inclusion are not rocket science. Why do these brands/people have such a hard time getting it right!?!?’
‘So disappointed to see this,’ wrote another, while one quipped: ‘Expected. Both the lack of diversity and masks.’
Some social media users pointed out that the front row at the show also appeared to be predominantly white, with one commenting on a post by Etro: ‘All I see is white feet!’
Another asked: ‘Anyone in the audience not white?’
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