FAYDAfrica’s Post

Check my interview in Alpha News!

As a Black American woman with dark skin, a wide nose, and natural hair, my journey through the fashion industry has been both challenging and enlightening. My unique perspective is shaped by navigating an industry that often glorifies Eurocentric beauty standards, leaving little room for true diversity and authenticity. I believe in advocating for real change in fashion... not just superficial inclusivity that fits into a social popularity contest, but genuine representation that celebrates all forms of beauty. Let's have a conversation about: - Moving beyond tokenism to true inclusivity - Respecting and honoring cultural heritage without appropriation - Embracing diverse aesthetics and stories in the fashion narrative It's time for the fashion world to reflect the rich tapestry of global beauty. How do you think we can push for more authentic representation and real change in the industry? Share your thoughts below. #FashionPerspective #BlackWomenInFashion #NaturalBeauty #DiversityInFashion #InclusiveFashion #BreakTheBias #AuthenticRepresentation #FashionForAll #CelebrateDiversity #OwnYourBeauty

📢 *New Article Alert!* 📝 I'm excited to share my latest article, featured in "The Creatives" website! In this piece, I explore how fashion is evolving to reflect deeper cultural shifts, including the rise of sustainability, the search for self-expression, and the erasure of traditional gender boundaries in style. It was a pleasure to dive into these important topics, and I hope my insights spark new conversations around the future of fashion and its role in shaping identity and inclusivity. Check it out here, and feel free to share your thoughts! #FashionInsights #SustainableFashion #GenderNeutralFashion #SelfExpression #FashionTrends

Fashion Month is just around the corner, and as the European summer basks in its full glory, it’s the perfect time to confront a critical issue that often gets overshadowed by the glamour and spectacle: inclusivity and diversity within the fashion industry. We often celebrate the progress made, but the question remains—how can true inclusivity and diversity be achieved if our interactions and collaborations are limited to those we selectively choose, rather than embracing the full spectrum of perspectives and voices? Having recently attended Copenhagen Fashion Week, Fashion in Helsinki, and being a mainstay in the three big European fashion capitals, I’ve come to realize the uncomfortable truth about the industry's biased and uneven support for inclusivity and diversity. The stories of exclusion and unfair treatment that many of my peers and I have experienced are disheartening. Despite now being treated fairly and seen, I remember all too well the sacrifices I had to make when I was new to the industry—swallowing my pride and ego just to attend and cover Fashion Week. From over-delivering on promises to endure non-stop schedules, unpaid work, and years-long waits for payments, the burden was heavy. Yet, it's disheartening to observe that only a specific demographic seems to consistently benefit from fair opportunities and treatment. At Copenhagen Fashion Week, this disparity became even more evident. I found myself canceling meetings and walking away from situations that felt wrong. The subtle yet palpable differences in how I was treated compared to others made me question—if this is happening to me now, how much more difficult must it be for those just starting in the industry, especially those from minority backgrounds or who don’t fit into the favored demographic? It’s deeply concerning that despite the industry’s outward celebration of diversity, prejudice still lingers as an accepted norm, making people feel like outsiders in a space that claims to champion inclusivity. So, if you hold the power and position to influence change, how will you use it to ensure fair treatment and true inclusivity within your surroundings? #fashionweek #fashionmonth #ethicalpractices #inclusivity #diversity #representation

How do you appeal to underrepresented audiences, as an institution with historic ties to colonialism? In 2022, we worked with the V&A to help launch the Africa Fashion exhibition, and become a more inclusive and diverse institution. Through participatory qualitative research, we discovered 5 key insights that helped inspire marketing and internal change, including strategic activation that connected them with new audiences. #behaviouralresearch #narrativechange #storytelling

🌱Celebrating Diversity in Sustainable Fashion ⚫️Environmental Impact: The fashion industry is a major contributor to pollution and waste. Choosing sustainable options helps protect our planet. ⚫️Cultural Representation: Supporting Black women-led brands not only elevates diverse voices but also fosters innovation and creativity in the industry. ⚫️Community Building: Together, we can inspire each other to make mindful choices and create a supportive network for sustainable practices. Join us as we redefine fashion with purpose! 💚 What steps are you taking towards sustainable living? Share your thoughts in the comments! #SustainableFashion #Diversity #Empowerment #2ndOfOne #EcoConscious #FashionWithPurpose

The Intersection of Pride, Eco-Fashion, and Inclusivity 🏳️🌈 June is a vibrant, colourful, and vital month that holds a significant place in our hearts. It is Pride Month, a month where we honour the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, NYC, and celebrate the immense impact that the LGBTQIA+ community has had on our societies and the world at large. It is also a poignant reminder of the ongoing work we need to invest in to create inclusive and equitable communities. Fashion is an integral part of this conversation. Fashion is about self-expression and identity. It's about feeling safe and secure enough to tell the world who you are and how you feel. And as we celebrate Pride, the role of fashion is worth considering because it helps shape our identities and societal interactions. As we delve into the role of eco-fashion in Pride, it's pertinent to ask, "Is inclusivity a part of sustainability?" The answer is a resounding yes. Sustainability is not just about the environment. It extends beyond that, covering aspects of social sustainability, which includes health, wellbeing, dignity, inequality, and more. If we do not sustain our people, we don't stand a chance of sustaining life on this planet. Now, what does eco-fashion have to do with Pride? Fashion brands have an inherent responsibility to create products that are environmentally sustainable, inclusive, and equitable. This can be achieved through the use of natural, regenerative materials, and support for fair wages and safe labour practices. If someone doesn’t see anyone that looks or feels like them in fashion, they feel left out. This is why representation and inclusivity in fashion are pivotal. At KOOSHOO, we are committed to contributing to a more diverse, inclusive world. We aim to remove gender from our marketing, create products for all hair types and colours, and elevate those who have historically been marginalized. Our goal is to foster creativity, expression, and inclusion for all. Together, let's celebrate Pride, let's celebrate diversity and let's create a lasting impact on communities around the world that feel marginalized and unseen. #FeelingKooshoo #PrideMonth #EcoFashion #Sustainability #Inclusivity

Our world is a beautiful tapestry of cultures and bodies. 🌍✨ With Metamodels, we're weaving that beauty into fashion. Because when we celebrate diversity, we celebrate humanity. #Metamodels #Diversity #Inclusion #Equity #DiversityInFashion #AIModels #RepresentationMatters #InclusiveFashion #FashionTech #DigitalInnovation

✨ **Style with Purpose** ✨ "Embrace the freedom to be authentically you. At Ecoluxe, we celebrate the woman who effortlessly blends intelligence, beauty, and sustainability. When you stay true to your style, you stay true to yourself. How do you express your unique style with purpose? Let us know in the comments and tag a friend who inspires you! 🌿👗 #StyleWithPurpose #EcoluxeFashion"