Africa gets its turn in L’Uomo Vogue as Vogue Italy continues to push fashion boundaries. We salute Franca Sozzani. Julys’ Vogue Italia was dedicated to Black female models after which nothing really changed as the runway remained as lily-white as ever with the exception of a handful of designers who saw using black models as a marketing gimmick.  L’Uomo Vogue however will not be making a profit from this venture.

Sozanni says 

“I actually started thinking about this way before the black issue when I began speaking to the philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy about his work in Darfur.”

She wanted to focus on people, projects and ideas. She did not want to make an aesthetic statement about Africa. So she didn’t fill the magazine with images of Western models in overpriced vaguely ethnic frocks. And unlike a recent issue of Vogue India, which sparked outrage among activists and humanitarians, this one won’t show peasants posing with $5,000 handbags.

It features instead Nelson Mandela, Forrest Whittaker, Michelle Obama, John Legend and various other persons who contribute to the growth of Africa. We hope Bill and Melinda Gates are featured.

The result is a reportage-style tribute to the continent as seen through the eyes of international writers, humanitarians and actors involved in cultural and social programmes that benefit Africa. Sozanni writes -

“We read so much about Africa and its many interesting projects but there don’t appear to be many official channels. Everyone knows what George Clooney gets up to because he is media friendly but no one realises that a company like Luxottica  has given away millions of pairs so people can read.

Preparing herself for criticisms that its all a gimmick :,

“That’s why I decided to give 50 per cent of the advertising revenue to various African aid organisations. We will not be making a profit from this.”

Given the economic climate, that’s a pretty substantial gesture. The issue goes on sale on November 1. We are for anything that brings Africas’ issues to the forefront of humanity. Bravo to Vogue Italia.

Franca Sozanni

This months’ L’Uomo vogue features Diddy and his two daughters.

Share/Save