In the same vein, Rebecca Minkoff chose to skip fashion week altogether, instead focusing energy into an online profile showcasing female empowerment. The editorial, entitled RM Superwoman, is centred around women making a difference—with the clothes seeming less important than the females featured on the site. As InStyle reports, "The platform will not only highlight activists like the Women's March leaders, but it will also be a place for conversation and events that will hopefully inspire women to lead 'fearless' lives." We can’t help but think that perhaps this is a more useful allocation of money that would typically go into producing an extravagant runway show, and it leads us to wonder whether this is an indication of what the future of fashion will look like.
Regardless of whether or not fashion shows will continue to carry such importance, however, it’s refreshing to see that either way, there appears to be a acknowledgement from the fashion industry. Both on and off the runway, designers are speaking out against injustice and fighting for causes they believe in. Whether through collections like Burberry’s, or in diverse casting, we can only hope to see more of this sartorial activism take place.
Like Bailey stated, this is an important time in history, and that means that each of us should try to do our part. In an industry as visible as fashion, these issues can’t be ignored, and if designers continue to speak up, as some have been already, we can only imagine the positive ripple effect that can flow on into the wider community.
Feeling inspired by Burberry’s announcement? Keep scrolling to shop other products that support the LGBT+ community: