Neon Models has learned that Riccardo Tisci, the creative director of Givenchy, has
described the singer / actress / model as his ‘dream icon’ and put her at the
front of the fashion house’s new campaign.
With race a central debate in the fashion industry at the
moment, with non-whites being under-represented in relation to their proportion
of society, in all areas from to modelling and design to cultural fashion
influences, the appointment of Badu is being praised widely.
Tisci has long been in favour of diversity in his shows, and
Badu’s clear association with African American identity, with her signature
colourful headwraps and proud afro hair further supports this aim.
Badu’s career was launched back in 1997 with her debut album
Baduizm, which enjoyed both critical and popular success.
In her youth, Badu changed the spelling of her first name from Erica to Erykah, because she said she believed her original name was a ‘slave’ name and the term ‘kah’ signifies her inner self.
In her youth, Badu changed the spelling of her first name from Erica to Erykah, because she said she believed her original name was a ‘slave’ name and the term ‘kah’ signifies her inner self.
Givenchy is one of the longest established Paris fashion
houses and is known for blazing a trail into diversity and modernity, being the
first label to feature a transsexual model in 2010.