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- The Australian Asians Taking Over Global Fashion
The Australian Asians Taking Over Global Fashion
by
Ashlene Nand
Instagram @jamesdkelly via @warukatta
Last year when I heard Margaret Zhang was going to be running Vogue China, I was so excited. Not just because of Zhang’s immense talent but I also suspected this was a woman who was going to open more doors for Asian Australians. And then just this year, we hear that homegrown editorial talent Megha Kapoor was going to be spearheading Vogue India, thanks to a good word put to Anna Wintour by her friend… Zhang. Boom.
Asian Australians have been steadily making their mark in the global fashion business on their own terms, many with very little help from the local industry that continues to favour whiteness. Perhaps I’m harsh but it has been interesting to watch how Asian representation has evolved over the years considering Australia’s lack of mainstream diversity, the industry’s constant denial of racism, and its inability to keep its most successful talent in the country.
Throughout the last 10 years, mixed-heritage models such as Shanina Shaik and Jessica Gomes have managed to redefine the blonde-hair blue-eyed stereotype. I recall the time Shanina Shaik graced the cover of Harper’s Bazaar Australia in 2015. The Muslim model was holding a koala and it was the first time I remember thinking that maybe Australia might be finally changing for Brown models. Or was it simply a tokenistic gesture to include us?
Then, it felt like out of nowhere, the stunning Fernanda Ly appeared on the scene. There were no Australian fashion shows for this Western Sydney girl, she was walking Paris Fashion Week shortly after being discovered. Ly, whose pink hair stole the show, is now one of our biggest model exports. Known as the Louis Vuitton girl, she has graced the pages of nearly every Vogue including American, British, Italian, Japanese and Australian editions, not to mention countless other covers and runaways.
The glass ceiling has been broken and more Asian Australians are coming to make their mark on the world. Take Zinnia Kumar, the first Australian-Indian to grace the cover of Vogue Australia in its 62-year history just this past April. Kumar is an accredited Ecologist and Conservation Biologist from Sydney, having worked across Australia’s outback. If that doesn’t sound impressive enough, this now London-based scientist is steadily pursuing her other passion — modelling — breaking traditional stereotypes of models while casually appearing in campaigns for Off-White and Glossier.
The Australian fashion industry is finally catching up on the global demand for our Asian models, and thankfully diverse rosters can now be found at modelling agencies across the country. But modelling isn’t the only avenue for Asian talent. Despite a lack of opportunities in the mainstream, Asian Australians such as Alyssa Lee and Tara Chandra are making strides as style influencers, bringing much-needed freshness while building global audiences thanks to social media.
So, who else should we look out for? Some of the fresh faces coming on the scene include curve model Shanaya Peters, whose face can be spotted in retail windows across the country. Also watch for Allison McNamara, Barsha Kabir and Varsha Kumar. And while I know this article is focused on women, I just must add I’m extremely excited about Nitesh Pillai. He’s one to watch on the global stage. We can use more dark-skin Asian representation in this industry. It’s taken some time, but we’re here now.
Ashlene Nand is a marketing executive, founder of Vaycay Beauty and social activist via the Instagram page @unlearningshit, where she discusses racism in Australia’s beauty and fashion industries, along with other topics such as cultural appropriation, Australian feminism and unlearning childhood trauma.
