Givenchy

Just a few posts back, I talked about Hublot's advertisement starring Bernie Ecclestone. It seems that controversial advertisements is the best way to try to get people's attention lately. But, while Hublot's ad came out of a very unfortunate incident, Riccardo Tisci has been pushing Givenchy to think a lot more outside-the-box consciously for some time now.

Ever since Tisci has come to head Givenchy as creative director, there has been a full on transformation of what the brand has come to represent. It didn't lose any of it's high-end tradition, but it has found its way back into the hearts of the most fashionable people of the world by doing something new and fresh with every season.

I must say that I always look forward to Givenchy's ads just as much as I look forward to the collections. The last ones were especially awesome, because Tisci has opted to think even more outside-the-box than usual. Last season, he used his muse Lea T (who also happens to be a transgendered model) as part of the autumn campaign. Now, Givenchy is giving us another great ad, this time starring an albino model.


To anyone who is at least a little into fashion it is not big news that the industry has been somewhat one-sided when it comes to race. Some say that that is how it has always been, and frankly, there is truth to that. Designers see a certain vision for their collections, and it is their right to execute the best way they see fit. That is why you see models strut the runway in jungle makeup or geisha hair. Unfortunately, skin color is not something that you can easily play with, as is eye-shadow for example.

On the other hand, there have been many people that have spoken out about the racial inequality that has been observed on the runway and editorials. Naomi Campbell recently mentioned that fewer "models of color" are being used than before. Incidentally, famous photographer (and Ms. Campbell's friend) Nick Knight's tribute to the late Alexander McQueen only featured black models.

If there is a big struggle for black models to succeed in this industry, what is to be said about minorities that have an even smaller presence in the business, namely albinos? Well, thanks to Riccardo Tisci, albino Stepher Thompson doesn't have to worry about that.

While I see absolutely nothing controversial in either their latest campaign or the one including Lea T, if brands decide to step outside of their comfort zone when working on their advertising, I highly appreciate when they come up with ideas like Givenchy has. Check out both ads below.

Givenchy AW 2010 campaign. Lea T second from right.

Givenchy SS 2011 campaign starring Stephen Thompson and Daphne Groeneveld