By Dana Ter
You may have heard about the under-representation of models of Asian descent in American or European editorials and runway shows. It’s only recently that Fei Fei Sun and Liu Wen from China, and Soo Joo Park from South Korea, are starting to make it on the covers of high fashion magazines like Vogue and Elle, and are gracing the runways of Alexander McQueen, Chanel and Victoria’s Secret fashion shows.
What is less known, however, is that it is also common throughout Asia to see pictures of mainly Caucasian models in fashion advertisements and on the websites of various designers. So while Asian Americans may feel that there aren’t enough people who look like them in the American media, those in Asia often times feel the same way too. But along with the economic boom and increased visibility of East Asian pop culture in the west (largely due to K-pop), there’s also a growing trend towards using local models in Asia itself.
This change can especially be seen in South Korea. The 3rd Korea Style Week, which ran from January 9-12, featured the Spring/Summer 2014 collections of mostly young, up-and-coming designers such as Water Bell and Bespoke on the catwalk, in addition to more established brands like the menswear label, Alnis Tailor-Seoul. It was refreshing to see Korean models strutting down the runway and exuberating confidence. In particular, Alnis Tailor-Seoul’s collection of long coats and suits evoked a 1940s film noir feel while dispelling the myth that Asian men can’t be sexy.
