September 26th 2023.
Supermodel Iman recently recalled the time she boycotted the luxury fashion house Céline a decade ago. This was in part due to a former creative director she accused of racism.
A video clip from Iman's September 2022 appearance on "Sway's Universe" recently surfaced online, providing insight into why she took a stance against the fashion powerhouse. During the interview, Iman called out Pheobe Philo for allegedly complaining about being "forced" to work with Black models. She further noted that this was the reason why she has "never" purchased a Céline bag.
"She has the right to her runway, and I have the right to my pocketbook," Iman quipped.
In 2013, Naomi Campbell and Iman started the Diversity Coalition to call out major fashion brands for their history of racism towards Black models and consumers. Iman stated to the Evening Standard that there were more Black models on the catwalk when she started in the 1970s than there are today. She also said that the absence of models of color sends a message to young girls that they are not good enough or beautiful enough.
The open letter sent to the fashion governing bodies in New York, London, Paris, and Milan at the time named Phoebe Philo as the one designer who was called out. Bethann Hardison, a former model and model agent, claimed that Céline has "never had a colored person showing in their collection. Ever," yet they have the best accessories and that every Black woman with money buys them.
It was then that Iman announced her boycott against the French luxury fashion brand. “Not me," she said. "I walk the walk. I can get another It-bag. I have my wallet. I make a conscious decision not to buy that stuff.”
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