Naomi Campbell speaks out against ‘tick box’ practices in fashion industry

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Naomi Campbell expressed her dissatisfaction with the fashion industry and its failure to meet its pledges towards diversity and inclusivity.

Since the 1980s, the British supermodel has been a significant figure in the fashion world and has earned a reputation as one of the leading Black models globally. Campbell achieved several milestones in her career, among them being the first Black model to grace the covers of several prestigious publications, including Time and Vogue France. She has consistently utilized her influence in the industry to advocate for diversity in fashion.

To honor her accomplishments, Naomi Campbell, who is 54 years old, is preparing to open an exhibition called Naomi: In Fashion at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London. The exhibit will feature clothing and souvenirs from her lengthy career spanning almost four decades.

During a recent conversation with Bloomberg, she discussed the subject of variety within the profession. She criticized those who prefer to appear accepting rather than dedicating themselves to promoting long-lasting inclusivity.

Many individuals may approach me and express their desires, however, if it's simply to fulfill a requirement, it may not register with me. This was relayed by her during the interview.

"I'm not someone who just checks off boxes. You need to demonstrate to me that you have a genuine desire to invest in the community and the infrastructure."

Campbell mentioned that in the past, she has shared her views with companies, but she was not happy with the way they were implementing diversity and inclusion in their products.

Have you ever come across brands that faced difficulties and tried to improve their image? Well, I have. I offered my assistance, and once they benefited from it or saw an improvement, they disregarded the help entirely.

"That's not how it works, and I am also educating myself."

During a promotional event for the exhibition earlier this year, Campbell expressed her worries about the industry's model and its way of dealing with diversity.

During his talk at the V&A in March, Campbell expressed his concerns about the future of diversity. He raised the question of whether or not diversity will continue to be valued in our society, which he finds worrying. Campbell admitted to feeling anxious as he observed the collections and realized that we may be moving backwards in our efforts for inclusivity.

"Why do I continue with my work?" she stated. "It's because I haven't finished yet. I believe it's necessary for me to utilize my voice and means to persist in my efforts."

Adam White from The Independent gave a four-star review of Naomi: In Fashion and complimented the exhibition on its impressive visual aspects.

In his writing, he expresses that the exhibit primarily centers around enjoyment, beautiful attire, and astonishing facial features. While this is admirable, it may fall short in terms of its ability to captivate or provide significant knowledge. Nevertheless, it still manages to bring joy.

The exhibition "Naomi: In Fashion" is set to debut on June 22.