.JoanSmalls has a message for fashion: Put your money where your mouth is
Smalls is among the first individuals within the industry to pledge a long-term financial commitment to the human rights movement. In a statement released on her Instagram this morning, she expressed the need for long-term change and accountability when it comes to racism and exclusivity in the industry. It was a powerful message, one she felt was necessary in light of the current climate.
Smalls was disappointed by the lack of action from brands in light of current events. After the deaths of George Floyd andanguished the nation, many fashion leaders remained silent on the issue of police brutality and racial injustice. “When you see an industry that you are part of not stand with you, it’s frustrating,” says Smalls. “This is a time when fashion should come together as a community and have our backs, yet it’s falling on deaf ears.
Compared to the rapid ascent of white models in the mid-aughts, many of whom moved from making their first runway appearance to landing prominent covers in quick succession, Smalls and other models of color faced an uphill battle. “You have the weight of representing a community,” she says. “You’re working twice as hard just to be seen as an equal so there is no room for mediocrity. I had to always make sure I was giving 120% because it wasn’t just on me.
Though she’s seen a marked improvement in runway inclusion over the last few years, Smalls feels that much needs to be done when it comes to diversity behind the scenes, both in the boardroom and on set. “[Change] is about having people in the room who look like me. So many times I’m the only person of color in the room, and if there is someone else, it’s an assistant, never someone in a position of power,” she says.
High profile donations have a way of encouraging others to do the same, though Smalls hopes her contribution can be more than monetary. She’s committed to putting in the work and is currently curating a list of creatives of color to help diversify brands and encourage her current clients to give back. “I hope people can reflect on what they can do besides making a social media post,” she says.
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