So in honor of this day, we wanted to pay tribute to stylish women who are working not only to move the fashion industry forward, but who challenge and transform the way we see the world today. Below, six women who have proven to be game-changers in their own right.
women moving forward
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Emma Watson
U.N. Women's Global Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson captured the fashion set's collective heart when she spoke at the U.N. to promote their #HeforShe campaign, a program which encourages men to stand up in support of women's rights, and promote solidarity between the genders in the fight for equality. Watson called upon our male brothers in the speech, highlighting that the patriarchal system that dominates the world isn't just bad for women – it hurts men too. "Gender equality is your issue too. Because to date, I’ve seen my father’s role as a parent being valued less by society despite my needing his presence as a child as much as my mother’s. I’ve seen young men suffering from mental illness unable to ask for help for fear it would make them look less 'macho'... I’ve seen men made fragile and insecure by a distorted sense of what constitutes male success. Men don’t have the benefits of equality either. We don’t often talk about men being imprisoned by gender stereotypes but I can see that that they are and that when they are free, things will change for women as a natural consequence." Her speech went viral and Watson continues to be viewed as a (very stylish) modern, feminist advocate.
Image: WENN
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Bethann Hardison
Bethann Hardison went from being a model to an activist striving to increase the representation of more women of color in the fashion industry. In 2013, she introduced the world to the Diversity Coalition though a series of letters written to the governing fashion bodies of New York, Paris, Milan and London. The letters called out a number of designers who used only one or no black models in their runway shows, imploring them, casting agents and modeling agencies to broaden there horizons and start representing a wider array of beauty on the runways. For her efforts in bringing change to the industry, Hardison was honored with the CFDA Founder's award. And the work continues. The Diversity Coalition periodically gives updates on the state of runway diversity, tracking designers who have improved (and those who haven't) on the inclusivity front. They also put forth a handy reference of guidelines and tips that designers and casting agents can use in order to help improve the situation.
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Sara Ziff
Sara Ziff is the founder and executive director of the Model Alliance, which since its start has advocated to improve working conditions for models in the industry. Ziff and the Model Alliance work to make sure models are educated so they will be aware of the labor abuses that plague the business, and work to eradicate them. She and her organization have championed improvements to the quality of life fo models, including New York State legislation that protects models under the age of 18 under a set of child labor laws.
Image: Getty Images
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Andreja Pejic
Andreja Pejic started her career capitalizing off her andogynous look as a man, but after years of gender bending, the model finally came out last July out as a transwoman. She re-entered the fashion game, this time staying true to her identity, this season making an epic runway comeback at Giles as a woman. Pejic proved that she could excite the modeling world as a man, and as a lady, she continues to slay the runway. She is planning to release a documentary about her transition, which will no doubt inspire many other girls like her, who one day dream of breaking into the modeling industry.
Image: WENN
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Amal Clooney
These days, much of what we hear of Amal Clooney is tabloid fodder, but she is actually doing a lot of work as a human rights lawyer, fighting for the rights of people around the world. She's represented clients like Julian Assange, served on more than a few U.N. panels and advised former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. But even though she's now entered Hollywood's A-list, she continues to follow her passion and work, making sure that everyone knows that in spite of her new glamorous life, she is all about her job. During a recent appearance at the European Court of Human Rights, reporter Bruno Waterfield dared ask Ms. Clooney what she was wearing. Clooney responded, "I'm wearing Ede & Ravenscroft," a label that makes legal robes for the U.K. judiciary. That'll teach 'em to ask silly questions while she's doing her job! Amal also just picked up a gig this spring teaching a class at Columbia University, making us wish just a little bit that we were students there right now.
Image: Getty Images
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Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney is determined to make luxury fashion friendlier to the environment. The designer's eco-friendly label shies away from using skin and fur and will only use the wool of animals if the material has been ethically sourced. And it's not just the materials that need to be ethical. Though the company isn't 100% sustainable, but McCartney is committed to making sure as many aspects as possible of a piece are created in a way that is environmentally friendly. "We take it in from things as simple as recycled lining in our handbags, to using wind power at our headquarters or our stores," the designer told Vanessa Friedman. "In the fashion industry, they don't always question the sourcing of their materials and it's critical, it's key. In farming for instance, you know you have to put back into the soil in order to get a good crop the next season. The fashion industry doesn't really approach it from that point of view."
Image: WENN
