Demna Gvasalia, darling of Paris fashion week, in race row for only using white models
Apologetic Balenciaga, where the Georgian-born Gvasalia is creative director, says ethnicity of models wasn't considered when casting. Gvasalia's own Vetements label had no reaction to condemnation from campaigners for diversity
Diversity campaigners have condemned the darling of Paris fashion week after he failed to cast a single model of colour in his two headline-grabbing shows.
Demna Gvasalia, who counts black music superstars Rihanna and Kanye West among his biggest fans, used only white models in shows for his own hip Vetements label and for Balenciaga Sunday, where he has just taken over as creative director.
The British-based Models for Diversity group on Monday slammed his choice as “appalling, unbelievable and bewildering”.
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“What was he thinking? I can’t believe that Kanye could have anything to do with him,” she said.
Last month the rapper turned fashion designer - a regular front row guest at previous Vetements shows - threatened to poach Gvasalia, 34, from the Spanish label.
“I’m going to steal Demna from Balenciaga,” he tweeted.
Sinclair, a former model, said given that the Georgian-born designer had built his reputation on edgy streetwear inspired by black fashion culture, not using black models was “gross”.