2013 had its share of scandals and news that rocked the airwaves. The previous year saw one pope leave the Vatican, an American city unite after a marathon tragedy, and a sports legend admit to being a steroid-injecting cheater on national television, which consequently ruined his career. The fashion world has also seen its fair share of news in 2013. Within the last year, David Bowie was crowned the Best Dressed Man in British History, many A-list celebrities missed the mark at this year’s MET Gala punk couture theme, and British model Cara Delevingne made her debut as the fashion world’s newest It Girl and runway darling for Dolce and Gabbana, Burberry, and Victoria’s Secret. A number of well-known fashion houses played professional musical chairs with Nicolas Ghesquiere leaving Balenciaga, replacing Marc Jacobs for the Creative Director role at Louis Vuitton, and Alexander Wang became Ghesquiere’s successor. In no particular order, here are five top news stories that stunned and surprised fashion lovers all over the world and nearly ripped the industry apart at the seams (pun intended).
The Return of John Galliano
John Galliano, British fashion designer (Image: theguardian.com)
In February 2011, legendary fashion house Christian Dior announced that it has suspended head designer John Galliano when he was arrested for going on an anti-Semitic tirade at a bar right before Paris Fashion Week. Ultimately, this forced the disgraced designer out of the spotlight and into a rehab facility for his drug and alcohol addictions. Following two years of facing his demons and working hard to atone for his actions, Galliano started taking baby steps back into the fashion world. In February 2013, he worked behind the scenes on Oscar de la Renta’s Fall/Winter collection for New York Fashion Week. During the summer, it was confirmed that Galliano would be designing the costumes for British director Stephen Fry’s rendition of Oscar Wilde’s comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest, which will open later this year. In the fall, he styled Kate Moss for a 1920s inspired spread in the December 2013 issue of Vogue U.K. In an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair, his first one since his ousting and first sober interview ever, he revealed the struggles, remorse, and ultimately gratitude for the entire experience.
Jeanne Beker: Journalist, TV Personality, Fashion Pioneer, and Officer of the Order of Canada
Jeanne Beker, Canadian television personality and fashion reporter (Image: ctv.ca)
On December 30, 2013, ninety people were appointed as members to the Order of Canada. This prestigious award honours Canadian citizens who have made outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to Canada. Jeanne Beker, Canadian fashion and journalism icon, joined the artist/writer Douglas Coupland and actress Sarah Polley who were also made officers of the Order. She received the honour for her amazing contributions to the Canadian fashion and entertainment industries. She recently released a clothing line entitled “Edit by Jeanne Beker,” regularly contributes articles to the Toronto Star, wrote five different books, and has countless awards and accolades to her name. She was also the host of the trailblazing TV show Fashion Television for twenty-seven years, which ended in 2012.
Runway Racism
Christian Dior Fall/Winter 2013 Couture runway show (Image: today.com)
“There are not enough models coming to castings that are black…That’s basically not having the choice,” said British fashion designer Alice Temperly in an interview with CNN. The sensitive issue of the racism on the runways has plagued the fashion industry for the last few years. Not many people notice the army of white models marching down the runways with only a couple of Black, Latina, and Asian models thrown into the mix. 2013 was the year that people are paying attention to the lack of racial diversity on the runway. Famous supermodels Iman and Naomi Campbell are already advocating for more diversity of models in fashion shows. In September 2013, former model agent Bethann Hardison penned an articulate letter to major fashion houses all over the world and exposed the brands and clothing lines that exclude models of different races for their runway shows.
The Petition to Hire Carmen Carrera as a Victoria Secret Model
Carmen Carrera at the Marco Marco fashion show (Image: ibitimes.co.uk)
In November 2013, a change.org petition was launched to make Carmen Carrera the first transgendered model to walk the Victoria Secret runway. So far, the petition has garnered over 40,000 signatures and overwhelming support on social media for the 5ft 11 inches model and burlesque performer. Carrera made her first television appearance as a contestant on season three of the groundbreaking competition show, RuPaul’s Drag Race. Since appearing on the show, she underwent the complete transition to a woman and has since signed with Elite Model Management, appeared in W magazine, and starred in a short fashion film directed by Steven Meisel. If Victoria Secret did bring on Carmen Carrera to join the bevy of angels, this move would be a progressive statement and a historical moment, especially for the LGBTQA community. Although Victoria Secret has yet to comment on the situation, the fact that there are tens of thousands of supporters for this petition shows that people are ready to redefine the standard of what it means to be a beautiful woman in the new millennium.
Rana Plaza Collapse
The Rana Plaza Disaster ( Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP/Getty Images)
On April 24, 2013, an eight-story factory building in Dhaka, Bangladesh collapsed and killed over 1,100 workers and injured over 2,500 more. This was deemed the worst disaster in the garment industry and the deadliest accidental architectural failure in modern history. The building contained banks, shops, and factories that made clothing for twenty-nine brands including Mango, H&M, The Children’s Place, and Joe Fresh. The aftermath from this tragedy drew worldwide criticism for the factory’s unsafe work conditions and wage violations for its workers. Protests ensued to express outrage at the brands (i.e. Walmart and The Gap) that refuse to sign a pact that would ensure safer building conditions for factories in Bangladesh. Sohel Rana, the owner of the doomed plaza, was promptly arrested at the Indo-Bangladesh border, apparently trying to escape the country. To this day, many of the victims and their families have yet to receive any compensation from the brands for the tragedy. The disaster also encouraged dialogue regarding corporate and social responsibility across global supply chains and the ethical cost of our clothing.
Moving Forward into a New Year
The fashion world saw its fair share of news makers and scandals in 2013. Some were celebrated, some brought awareness, and one even challenged our worldviews. Even though fashion is all about the next trend or the one new designer to look out for, it’s only by acknowledging the past that fashion can move forward. One can only wonder what the year 2014 will bring for the fashion industry. One thing is certain: there is never a dull moment in the fashion world.
