CGI Models Margot & Zhi Join Shudu In #Balmain Army; Is It The Beginning of the End for Humanity?

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CGI Models Margot & Zhi Join Shudu In #Balmain Army; Is It The Beginning of the End for Humanity?

Everyone is welcome in Olivier Rousteing's #Balmain Army, a brand committed to diversity. The latest extension of the #Balmain Army includes CGI models (computer generated imagery). Rousteing worked with Cameron-James Wilson, the CGI artist and photographer behind Fenty Beauty's controversial Shudu model. 

Controversy surrounded Shudu when she made her debut in March of 2018. With social media saying the unknown Shudu was just a little too perfect, Wilson explained to the clamoring crowds: ""Basically Shudu is my creation, she’s my art piece that I am working on at the moment. She is not a real model unfortunately, but she represents a lot of the real models of today. There’s a big kind of movement with dark skin models, so she represents them and is inspired by them. Obviously some models like Duckie (Thot) were definitely big inspirations for her as well."

Refinery 29 has followed the story from its inception, writing: "This did not sit well with people, who believe Shudu represents a lot more than one man's digital art project. The news of her non-existence has triggered an online backlash, with people quickly pointing out how problematic it is that she, a Black woman, was created by a white man and "hired" instead of an actual Black model, a demographic that remains underrepresented in the fashion and beauty industries."

We will add that the CGI models now join sex robots as idealized female creations of the male mind. It's an interesting philosophical consideration in the evolution of fashion and female models. 

Shudu now joins two Balmain-exclusive, digital supermodels Margot and Zhi. 

Teddy Quinlivan Says Fashion Industry Needs To Get Rid Of Its Sexual Predators. Trusting New Talent Is Out There

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Teddy Quinlivan Says Fashion Industry Needs To Get Rid Of Its Sexual Predators. Trusting New Talent Is Out There

Model Teddy Quinlivan took a strong stand for her colleagues last week, penning a powerful open letter on Instagram. Teddy spoke generally about the issue of sexual harassment in the fashion industry, while disclosing her own direct experiences with wandering fingers in her panties and more. 

After probing the reality that victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault are generally ignored because of the power that the perpetrator photographer or stylist wields, Teddy Quinlivan announced, “I refuse to work with brands and publications who continue to collaborate with accused offenders of assault,” adding, “There is no fashion show, editorial, campaign, or event that is more important than the safety and well being of both myself and remarkable men and women I work with.”

Karen Elson Joins Model Alliance Board As It Embraces Fashion Industry's Trickle Down Effect On Women

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Karen Elson Joins Model Alliance Board As It Embraces Fashion Industry's Trickle Down Effect On Women

One of the industry's most prominent models Karen Elson recently joined the Model Alliance's board of directors. Sara Ziff and the Model Alliance came into existence in 2012 with the mission of promoting the fair treatment, safety, overall working conditions and mental health of models. More prominent now than ever, we note a new evolution in the group's mission that includes a need to embrace fashion's trickle-down effect and its impact in the larger population. 

This week Elson joined the Model Alliance's board of directors and its founding director Ziff in a chat in Rachel Comey's Crosby Street store. On hand were editors, agents and designers, along with a lot of young models, writes Vogue. 

Ziff and Elson reviewed the basic accountability steps that the industry is taking to address the 'job' of being a model. Fresh -- if not new -- commentary in the presentation focused on the trickle-down effect that the fashion industry has on women's self-images and the larger culture. Elson shared her thoughts:

Refugee Models From Sudan Share Their Stories: Shanelle Nyasiase, Angok Mayen, George Okeny

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Refugee Models From Sudan Share Their Stories: Shanelle Nyasiase, Angok Mayen, George Okeny

Model Shanelle Nyasiase walked a dizzying 42-43 shows in the past month, as the Fall 2018 runway shows launched in New York before moving to London, Milan and then Paris, weeks after the launch of her spectacular Alexander McQueen Spring 2018 ad campaign.

AOC is a different kind of fashion website, with my own roots embedded so deeply in activism on behalf of women worldwide, but especially in Africa and very deeply in Sudan and Kenya. 

I was pleasantly surprised today to see 'The Modeling World's Sudanese Refugees Share Their Stories' on Vogue.com, with Shanelle Nyasiase featured, along with peers Angok Mayen and George Okeny.

Africa's refugees are populating the pages of AOC, coming from the US, but also Australia and European countries. I like the candor of this Vogue video and am happy to see the content evolutions in the magazine. Listening to George Okeny talk about missing a Gucci ad shoot right after Trump's inauguration -- because he was caught up in the first wave of the president's immigration travel ban -- hit home. Take a listen. Oh, George says his papers are now in order, so if you know anyone at Gucci . . . That would be Alessandro Michele.

Kendall Jenner Says 'No Go' To Walking Fall 2018 Fashion Shows, Takes Self-Care Time Instead

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In November 2017 Kendall Jenner dethroned Gisele Bündchen as the world's highest paid supermodel, according to Forbes. Given Gisele's general retirement from modeling in 2015, her status as #1 was certain to lapse. The question was who would fill her boots -- or stilettos, if you prefer.  Note that Gisele still earned over $17 million, putting her in second place.

When Kendall Jenner didn't jet off to Shanghai before the holidays for the Victoria's Secret fashion show, it was clear that her plum La Perla contract probably prohibited it. 

According to the Forbes estimate, Jenner made $22 million in the prior year including her endorsements, modeling work, and her profit cut from 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians'. Jenner has lucrative, exclusive contracts with lingerie brand La Perla, Adidas Original and Estee Lauder. Kendall regularly appears in top brands ad campaigns and magazine editorials. Oh, and she's working on her own clothing line. 

With this financial setup swirling around her, there really is no problem that Kendall Jenner decided to take a break from the Fall 2018 fashion show season. Kendall Jenner is far, far more than a fashion model.

“She had other working commitments this year,” a source close to People said. “Kendall always decides last minute what she is walking in. It depends on the money and how she is feeling," added another. A third added that there wasn't any "severe" reason. The timeout does however come after a Keeping Up With The Kardashians episode that addressed the model's anxiety issues, a revelation that ended with Jenner vowing to find ways to manage her life perspective.

Eye | Edie Campbell Joins Tim Blanks, Talks 'Creative Genius' Sex Demands and New Age For Female Photographers

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Edie Campbell Joins Tim Banks, Talks 'Creative Genius' Sex Demands and New Age For Female Photographers

Edie Campbell sits down with Tim Blanks at London's Dover Street Market, for a frank conversation on enabling behavior in the fashion industry. The convo is a follow-up to her open letter published on WWD in November 2017. 

First and foremost, Edie challenges the entire industry -- agents, publishers, designers -- about their protection of the 'creative geniuses' at the expense of young models. Campbell is so articulate in her observations and critical thinking that this interview is well worth the listen. 

In a closing statement that is music to my ears, Edie Campbell is asked by Tim Blanks if we are entering a golden age for female photographers in the fashion industry. Edie is very comfortable agreeing that this is a likely possibility and a clear way of ending the abuse, especially with so many talented women available without the sexual expectations and demands of male photographers. 

Eye: LVMH & Kering Issue Joint Statement Banning Too Thin, Too Young Models

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Eye: LVMH & Kering Issue Joint Statement Banning Too Thin, Too Young Models

French luxury titans LVMH and Kering issued a joint statement on Wednesday, announcing their intention to curb use of ultra-thin -- typically called size 0 -- models on runways and in ad campaigns,writes Bloomberg. 

The Paris-based companies said they’d implement stricter guidelines for the treatment of models, including increasing minimum garment sizes for fashion shows as well as requiring them to have medical certificates attesting to their good health. Models below the age of 16 will be banned from showing grown-up fashions, while those ages 16 to 18 will need to be chaperoned, the companies said in a joint statement Wednesday.

“Certain subjects rise above any competition,” Antoine Arnault, chief executive officer of LVMH-owned shoemaker Berluti and eldest son of group chairman Bernard Arnault, said in an interview. “There have been problems in all houses with the way fashion models work, with their well-being and even their psychological safety. A lot of the models are very young, and they don’t have the necessary experience to cope with certain situations. They will be looked after.”

The joint strategy between the two conglomerates -- a decision that impacts luxury brands including LVMH's Louis Vuitton, Dior, Celine, Givenchy and more and Kering's Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Stella McCartney, Bottega Veneta and more- reflects growing concern over teenage eating disorders. 

I cannot believe this is happening, eight years after Ralph Lauren fired Filippa Hamilton for being too fat -- as a size 4 -- and the downsizing of models worldwide became a bitter fight in fashion. When I said yesterday on FB that I would be returning to this debate in my writing, I had no idea this move by two corporate giants in fashion was about to be announced.

The world of social media is so much more influential now, than eight years ago. When model Ulrikke Hoyer made waves in May 2017, after arriving in Kyoto to be told that she was "too bloated" and "too big" to wear the clothes and should only drink water for 24 hrs., Ulrikke went public and told her followers about the event, shared on Models.com.