Britain's Debenhams is once again broadcasting its commitment to diversity by using nontraditional models to promote its fashion collections. The department store won an award last year for similar efforts. According to the Debenhams blog:
Here at Debenhams we believe that anyone can look fabulous in our range—which is why we've decided to break with convention …
By becoming the first high street retailer in the UK to promote its latest fashion collections by using models in a diverse variety of ages, sizes and looks—the imagery in our "High Summer Look Book" turns its back on the industry norm of young thin models.
Featuring an amputee, three models over 40 (including one nearing 70), a Paralympian athlete and not forgetting our swimwear shot with a size 18 model to celebrate curvelicious women.
Sometimes I can't see the line between celebrating and exploiting people who deviate from standard aesthetics, and this is one of those times. Maybe if the rest of the fashion industry took up these practices, I wouldn't be so cynical.
Via Laughing Squid.
