In the wake of Donald Trump’s first attempt at the Muslim travel and immigration ban and as families are being broken up by I.C.E. raids and deportations, it’s increasingly important to express solidarity for those put in danger by the current administration. Enter in the fashion industry – while some designers have vast histories of hosting charity fashion shows and supporting social progress, current events have moved leading figures in the industry to speak out louder than ever before. During the election, numerous labels and magazines who were previously a-political came out in support of Hillary Clinton and last week at New York Fashion Week, designers like Raf Simons and Philipp Plein paid homage to the positive attributes of the U.S. and the CFDA distributed “Fashion Stands With Planned Parenthood” buttons to designers and show goers.
One day in between the shows, W creative and fashion director, Edward Enninful organized 81 of fashion’s famous faces to film an “I Am an Immigrant” Public Service Announcement. Grace Coddington, Diane von Furstenberg, Adriana Lima, Joseph Altuzarra, Mario Sorrenti, Inez & Vinoodh, Anja Rubik, Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler, Thakoon, Imaan Hammam, Winnie Harlow, Opening Ceremony’s Carol Lim and Humberto Leon, and Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne of Public School were amongst those who shared positive experiences of unity and optimism and to make the simple but immensely powerful on-camera statement, “I am an immigrant.”
As we wait with bated breath for the new version of Trump’s Muslim ban (set to go into effect unveiled any day now), it is crucial to continue to highlight the immigrant spirit that the United States was built upon. Watch the “I Am an Immigrant” PSA below.
