Black in Fashion

2014, 12.30

This video is about Maureen Vigille, a British couturière who was incensed when a well known Paris designer and an influential Italian fashion magazine painted white models black to represent African queens instead of using a black model. Blackface was often used in the early 20th century, but always to portray black people in humiliating stereotypes – and Maureen was horrified to find that it is making a comeback. As a designer who has worked in the industry for 25 years she finds it racist and very offensive.