Thoughts Please: Bruno 247 & the ‘Black Woman’ Chair

Actions always speak louder than words. 

On January 20, 2014, Miroslava Duma's new online magazine Buro 247, published an article on Russian socialite Dasha Zhukova. The image to accompany the interview was Zhukova sitting on a'black woman' chair.

This image is quite vexing as it was posted on MLK Day. What message did Editor and Chief Miroslava Duma intend to send to the multicultural women of many colors working in fashion? As one, I think she should be ashamed. I now identify the brand with Ignorance.

The spread was tasteless and degrading. Women's history has not always been about equality or freedom. There is an ongoing struggle to promote women's contributions to our world. The fact that this message moved through a process of creation to publication speaks to an intention to influence with this negative stab.

As a high school student, I remember my older cousin Lynn, already living a fashion career in NYC, advising me to be aware I would always have to know my stuff to the T, and to have confidence not to get discouraged when faced with "creative" racism. Why is it so threatening for all players in the game to have a fair chance? How can the underlying insecurity and hate some individuals have be changed?

The Fashion Industry is challenged to incorporate black models in couture shows in ways that bring attention to our beauty, not the ugly attitudes of the past.

Fashion is about art, expression, beauty, textiles, and storytelling through various mediums. Miroslava Duma's media should be closely scrutinized. The image is offensive and antiquated.

It is sickening. Fashion is about art , expression, beauty, textiles and storytelling through various mediums. When did skin color become one of the qualifications? We are all composed of the same thing. So to editor's like Miroslava Duma, perhaps you should revisit your idea of fashion, I think your current reservation it is out of date.