Ye and the fashion industry

Fashion responds to Ye’s divisive YZYSZN9 show and the backlash on social media.

 

You probably already know about the uproar that Ye (the rapper formerly known as Kanye West) brought about on Monday with his impromptu YZYSZN9 event, if you haven’t been living under a rock. Ye showed his new collection in a warehouse against procedure and outside of schedule during a busy Paris Fashion Week. It included a T-shirt that has subsequently come to control a lot of the conversation in the fashion world. The t-shirt, which reads “White Lives Matter” on the back and features a photograph of Pope John Paul II and the phrases “We Will Follow Your Example” on the front, has since sparked a media uproar. When it was presented, Ye’s use of a slogan embraced by white nationalist organisations caused both viewers and editors to abandon the event. Given the negative connotations of right-wing discourse, the consequences of such a statement have prompted many fashion week guests and editors to voice out.

 

With or without context, the “White Lives Matter” message is undeniably detrimental, and Kanye’s inclusion of the remark is wholly irresponsible, according to Emma Davidson, Dazed’s Fashion Features Editor. By including a phrase that the Anti-Defamation League has deemed to be a hate slogan on a T-shirt that he has created “for everyone.” The risks of Ye’s actions were also highlighted by Davidson, who said, “If a Black man can use, commodify, and transmit a racist message that is steeped in white supremacy and endorsed by the Klu Klux Klan, then why can’t everyone else?”

 

Tremaine Emory, the founder of Denim Tears and Supreme Creative Director, also spoke out after Ye singled out Editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, one of the few Black women in her position in the industry, for her comments made after attending the show. You are so broken, Emory wrote in an Instagram post. KEEP VIRGIL’S NAME FROM YOUR SPEECH… KEEP MENTIONING @gabriellak j’S NAME… You are not a victim; rather, you are an insecure narcissist desperate for approval from the fashion industry. Be careful.

 

Like latter remark is particularly poignant because it appears that Ye has been pleading with the fashion industry for acceptance for more than ten years at this point. He appeared at Givenchy and Burberry this season in addition to walking for Balenciaga, pushing the notion that he was there to support his peers. However, his efforts to be supportive were compromised by displaying the tee during the YZY event, which caused showgoers to be put in a position they did not support and cause them to leave.

 

Editor Lynette Nylander and Jaden Smith left the performance. Many people vented their anger on social media, with Gigi Hadid writing under one of Ye’s since-deleted posts about Karefa-Johnson, “As if the ‘honour’ of being invited to your programme should keep someone from giving their views.” Mowalola Ogunlesi sent Ye a text that read, “I also don’t think you should trash the writer.”

 

Giving Ye additional airtime can seem unnecessary, but this time the situation is different. His arguments are no longer the only ones being discussed; the industry is also making its own points. “His thinking is continuously intriguing; there is a sense that he’s functioning from somewhere we can’t quite fathom, somewhere else,” says Raven Smith for Vogue. He is a genius at keeping us talking about him, igniting debate, and poking fun at our occasionally showy wokeness. He has been seen wearing a MAGA hat. He has been spotted with Donald Trump in the White House. And right now, he and Candace Owens are wearing matching “White Lives Matter” shirts. The Face responds to this with a headline that perfectly encapsulates the discussion: Ye, whom we hardly knew. We were too familiar with him.

 

What does the reaction against the fashion industry mean, though, for the rich businessman who unavoidably influenced Paris Fashion Week? What does it signify for the fashion business, more importantly?

 

Black Lives Matter, Karefa-Johnson, and freedom of speech have all been supported by the industry in unison and with a strong foundation in journalistic ethics. With their collective efforts, the industry is making Ye answerable for his statements, which is exactly the kind of editorial activism that needs to happen. precisely when one of our own is being exposed to this targeted toxin.

 

Holding Ye responsible is important, but what about YZYSZN9’s ghost designers? Who is on the production team, who are the people behind YZY, and why did they choose to back Ye’s “creativity”?

 

We observed it when several editors decided to abstain from the recent Dolce & Gabbana collection featuring a co-sign from Kim Kardashian. Gosha Rubchinskiy, Alexander Wang, A$AP Bari, and many others have been rightfully criticised in the past for acting inappropriately in political or racial contexts or due to sexual assault. Ye has undoubtedly drawn widespread criticism for her propensity to collaborate with contentious personalities like Marilyn Manson, who is accused of abusing children. But now, the business community is uniting against him.

 

We may all take a lesson from the fashion industry in how to confront other present and potential provocateurs by responding with strength and togetherness in the face of someone who appears to be trying to sow discord. Journalism’s cornerstones are truth-based reporting and accountability. Ye’s narcissism is being strongly condemned by the industry, demonstrating the existence of leaders that champion diversity and originality.

 

From the outside, fashion weeks appear to be nothing more than a good excuse to dress up. However, as we all know, this is really a moment for artists to express themselves; for writers, photographers, purchasers, and tastemakers to find inspiration. However, this Paris Fashion Week has demonstrated that the neighbourhood can unite for a much greater good. Ye’s widespread cancellation by the media has demonstrated that this level of toxicity is no longer acceptable. The last week’s misadventures have shown us that the future of fashion is in good hands. A new generation of authors and influencers is laying the groundwork for an industry that is fairer, kinder, and more honest, rather than one that is stuck in the archaic and stereotypical past.