The past year has been a great one for diversity in the fashion industry.
In September we started the hashtag #NYFW4ALL during New York Fashion Week as a call to action for our industry to be more inclusive -- whether it be race, body image, and beyond. And the industry responded. This year also saw the rise of the hashtag #BlackGirlMagic, which celebrated the awesomeness of black women. In addition, plus-size supermodel Ashley Graham rolled out several projects to champion curvier women who constantly feel under represented. The list goes on.
While we're thrilled about these wins, we're also looking forward to the day when stories celebrating diversity will be obsolete because the images we see will reflect the wonderfully unique world we live in. #FingersCrossed
Until then, here's a look back on the moments in 2015 that are getting us closer to the goal.
1. When non-models Amy Schumer, Serena Williams and a host of other inspiring women posed (clothed and unclothed) for the 2016 Pirelli calendar.
2. When the September 2015 magazine covers were dominated by black women.
3. When Diane von Furstenberg wrote a letter urging fashion designers to cast more models of color in their fashion shows.
4. When the clothing company & Other Stories cast two transgender models, Valentijn De Hingh and Hari Nefstylist, in its advertising campaign.
5. When model Soo Joo Park became the first Asian-American woman to be named global ambassador for L'Oreal Paris.
6. When Lane Bryant teamed up with plus-size model Ashley Graham to launch the #ImNoAngel campaign to celebrate body acceptance.
7. When Teen Vogue featured three brown beauties -- Imaan Hammam, Lineisy Montero, and Aya Jones -- on the cover of its August issue.
8. When South Sudanese model Nykhor Paul wrote an open letter to all the "white people in the fashion world" -- specifically makeup artists -- who don't know how to work with models who have darker complexions.
9. When plus-size model Ashley Graham partnered with Addition Elle to launch her own line of lingerie, and then modeled the collection alongside other curvy models.
10. When H&M cast an array of diverse models in its Close the Loop recycling program commercial -- including the brand's first Muslim model, Mariah Idrissi, to be featured wearing a hijab.
11. When supermodel Jourdan Dunn won the title of Model Of The Year at the 2015 British Fashion Awards.
12. When Madeline Stuart, an 18-year-old Australian model who has Down syndrome, worked the runway at New York Fashion Week in Hendrik Vermeulen's Spring 2016 presentation.
13. When plus-size model and avid runn Erica Schenk shattered body image stereotypes by landing the August 2015 issue of Women's Running.
14. When model Maria Borges rocked her natural hair on the runway at the Victoria's Secret runway show.
15. When model Stefania Ferrario and Australian actress-cum-author Ajay Rochester launched the #DropThePlus campaign, because they believe that the "plus" label is both counterproductive and harmful to young girls' self esteem.
16. When Caitlyn Jenner introduced herself to the world on Vanity Fair's April 2015 issue.
17. When Qimmah Saafir funded her Kickstarter campaign to launch a new and unique magazine for black women.
18. When singer and plus-size model Beth Ditto walked in Marc Jacob's Spring 2016 fashion show and killed it.
19. When Liya Kebede graced the May 2015 cover of Vogue Paris -- marking the first time in five years that a black model has done so.
20. When, yet again, model Ashley Graham let the world know that curves are awesome in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue's first-ever plus-size ad.
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