NYC: 45% White – NY Times Fash Mag: 96% White

OK, we’re far from the first to point out that the fashion industry has a diversity problem when it comes to presenting itself. It’s just that when you think that when we’re in an era where an African-American could be elected president, it’s fascinating that the New York Times can publish a magazine that tows the fashion industry party line. The full page ads and photo shoots in their 2008 Women’s Fashion Spring supplement contain 144 white, 3 black, 2 Asian and 1 Indian models. (Or that’s what we counted during the Oscars).

We know that these supplements are mainly a vehicle to make money through advertising, but considering that the newspaper comes from a city that is 55% non-white, are we the only ones to consider when 96% of the models are white, aren’t they publishing content that’s a little under-representative of its readership?

NY Times Fashion Magazine