Heads up, fashionistas. New York Fashion Week opens today. I love watching the sylph-like fashion models parade down the runways draped in clothes I’ll probably never wear. But I have to admit, for a girl who works at a nonprofit that’s trying to help end extreme poverty, sometimes fashion can feel a bit empty to me.
That’s why Fusion writer Elisa Rodriguez-Vila’s re-interpretation of ads for fashion’s most covet-worthy lines is so refreshing. She replaced models with “super women” badass Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Global Citizen favorite Malala Yousafzai.
Images via Fusion
Now, fashion is no stranger to promoting women of substance. Fashion-bible Vogue regularly profiles women like Michelle Obama, and HIllary Clinton. And the industry often gives back to worthy causes. Fashion lines do charitable collaborations all the time, like Olivia Palermo’s recent collaboration with luxury bag maker Aspinal of London on a limited edition release that benefits ADCAM, an international non-profit that supports education and microcredit for women in developing nations.
But fashion ads do seem to be one space where beauty consistently trumps accomplishments. Maybe that’s why when Celine cast the amazing author Joan Didion for its recent ad campaign, it caused a wave of awe and appreciation on the Internet. That Celine ad served as inspiration for Rodriguez-Vila’s reimagining of the fashion promotions. Like her, I’d welcome seeing more badass women in ads promoting my favorite lines.
So come on, designers. Let’s look beyond models to star in your next campaign. In case you’re at a loss, here are my suggestions.
Sheryl WuDunn, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and co-author of Half the Sky and A Path Appears
Shel Holtz via Flckr
Christy Turlington-Burns, model and founder of Every Mother Counts
Fortune Live Media via Flickr
Melinda Gates, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Gates Foundation via Flickr
Leymah Gbowee, Liberian peace activist and winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace
Aktiv I Oslo.no via Flickr
Cameron Russell, model and TED presenter
The Q Speaks via Flickr
Hillary Clinton, former United States Secretary of State, US Senator, and First Lady of the United States
Mike Mozart via Flickr
Alek Wek, model and activist
TEDxJuba via Flickr
Alyse Nelson, co-founder, president and CEO of Vital Voices Partnership
Fortune Live Media via Flickr
Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International
WITNESS:: See it. Film it. Change it. via Flickr
These women are not only beautiful on the outside, but even more so because of the incredible work they’ve done. Dressing them in beautiful clothes just makes sense. And seeing more women like this would go a long way toward helping more people see the fashion industry as something more than empty.
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Amy Freeland