Kanye West has the fashion world buzzing again, and not because of controversial last-minute runway shows or using Kardashian sisters as models.
The singer-turned-designer, whose minimal Yeezy collection showed only weeks ago at New York Fashion Week, said he felt his heterosexuality worked against him in fashion circles.
“I feel like I got discriminated in fashion for not being gay,” West said in a recent interview. “In music, you definitely get discriminated in music if you are gay. It takes amazing talents to break down barriers.”
It’s no secret that fashion has its powerful sect of gay designers, creative directors, curators and journalists, but plenty of heterosexual men enjoy successful careers in the menswear, womenswear and accessories game.
Ralph Lauren, who recently stepped down as CEO from his iconic brand, John Varvatos, Kenneth Cole and Yohji Yamamoto are just a few of those who identify as straight — not to mention the late, legendary Oscar de la Renta who is largely considered one of the greatest American designers of all time (but we’ll let you finish, Kanye).
If West is feeling a cold shoulder, perhaps its the content of his collection — not his interest in the opposite sex — that leaves sour notes within the industry.
“This second round of drab, broken-down basics proved he can’t be taken seriously as a designer, but nevertheless many people in fashion do seem to take West seriously — they keep showing up expectantly for his performances — and that makes themfools,” wrote noted fashion critic Cathy Horn of West’s latest efforts.
See 11 straight fashion designers killing it in the marketplace:
11. Kenneth Cole
10. Tommy Hilfiger
9. Ralph Lauren
8. Christian Lacroix
7. Oscar de la Renta
6. Emanuel Ungaro
5. Emilio Pucci
4. Max Azria
3. Elie Saab
2. Yohji Yamamoto
1. Public School
Public School fashion designers Maxwell Osborne and Dao-Yi Chow
9 Outrageous Fashion Scandals: From Abercrombie's Fat-Shaming to Kathie Lee's Sweatshops (Photos)
John Galliano, the head designer for Dior, was caught on camera making anti-Semitic remarks in a Paris café in 2011. Galliano can be heard saying to fellow diners, “I love Hitler” and “People like you would be dead today. Your mothers, your forefathers would be f**ing gassed and dead.” Following the release of the video, Galliano was fired from Dior and retreated from publicity while spending time in rehab.
Abercrombie & Fitch saw its reputation take a plunge in 2013 when CEO Mike Jeffries’ comments from a 2006 interview resurfaced. Jeffries openly admitted in the interview that the company only wanted the attractive, all-American, cool kids wearing the brand's clothes.
The retailer recently came under fire for selling a tapestry resembling the uniform gay prisoners wore in Nazi camps during the Holocaust. The article in question is a blanket with pink triangles superimposed over grey and white stripes. Urban Outfitters reportedly pulled the item after it generated outrage in the LGBT community. This isn’t the first time the retailer has sparked controversy; in 2014 Kent State sweatshirts were for sale with bullet holes and blood spatter alluding to the killings of four students at the university in 1970.
Domenico Dolce, one half of Italian brand Dolce & Gabbana, made comments to an Italian magazine stating children conceived through IVF are “synthetic children.” Elton John caught wind of the comments and went to social media to call a boycott of D&G. John, who has two children via IVF with husband David Furnish, said, "How dare you refer to my beautiful children as 'synthetic.'”
Karl Lagerfeld, the creative mind behind Chanel and Fendi, faced backlash for fat-shaming when he said “nobody wants to see curvy women on the runway,” and then called Adele “a little too fat.” Lagerfeld has never been one to censor his thoughts and later responded to the controversy saying, “But after that she lost eight kilo, so I think the message was not that bad.”
From accusations of sexualizing children to finding itself on the brink of bankruptcy several times, American Apparel has had its fair share of controversies. In 2013, the retailer held a modeling contest for plus-size women. The winning contestant submitted photos of herself half-naked eating fatty foods in an attempt to make a mockery of the brand.
Australian model Robyn Lawley, size 12, was at the forefront of controversy when Sports Illustrated labeled her “plus-size” in 2015. The average American women is size 14. The model addressed the issue saying, “It’s about time we forgo labels and embrace size diversity in the fashion world and mainstream media.”
In 2007, clothing brand The Gap reportedly used vendors in India that exploited child laborers as young as 10 years old. Gap responded to the controversy swiftly and condemned the use of child labor to produce or work on garments and has since required suppliers to guarantee they will not use child labor. Other brands exposed for child labor include Disney, Nike and Kathie Lee Gifford’s Wal-Mart clothing line.
Lululemon co-founder Chip Wilson found himself in hot water when he blamed women’s thighs for defects in the brand's yoga pants. The $98 pants were recalled in 2013 for being too sheer and pilling after only a few wears. In a Bloomberg interview, Wilson responded to the complaints saying, “They don't work for some women's bodies ... it's really about the rubbing through the thighs." Wilson stepped down as chairman in 2013.
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Some designers and fashion industry executives should invest in mufflers
John Galliano, the head designer for Dior, was caught on camera making anti-Semitic remarks in a Paris café in 2011. Galliano can be heard saying to fellow diners, “I love Hitler” and “People like you would be dead today. Your mothers, your forefathers would be f**ing gassed and dead.” Following the release of the video, Galliano was fired from Dior and retreated from publicity while spending time in rehab.
