Hi Nadine,

Is this event still running?

Email simonewilliams@fsmail.net if it is.

Kind regards,

Simone

I have read with some alarm the posts at the beginning of this thread and have to agree with original _object_ion to this request. I am a black person, and a designer, but do not feel that one is relevant to to the other.

If one is black, it will not affect the quality of the designs and fashion, refreshingly, is one of the few "colour blind' industries I have worked in.

There should be NO "Black" "Asian" or any other descriminatory/excluding shows... including "white" shows ! Can you imaging the outcry from black people if there was an advert posted: "are you a telentd WHITE designer???"

I don't need to be black to be a good designer. I don't need "suppport" or "positivity" from the black community to be a good designer... I need to be left alone to be just a GREAT designer, regardless of my skin colour. and who needs to be pideon holed? If I cant make it as a designer in the UK, the last thing I will blame is my black skin...

I agree wholeheartedly with everything said by HowardP - this kind of 'positive' discrimination is what I think leads to greater segregation, and inadvertently gives legitimacy to such extremist groups as the BNP. By all means have a fashion show celebrating black culture and influences, but for such a show to be offered purely to black designers is outrageous, and surely is illegal?
In fact, in today’s Telegraph there is an article on the legality of employing people for race reasons.

Surely fashion is the one industry where everyone, regardless of race/colour/background can take influences and inspiration from every culture around the world and where segregation does not exist.

I am a non-religious Jew. It is a little known and often conveniently ignored fact that Jewish people are classed as Black and Minority ethnic. So under the various Race Relations/Humans Rights Acts I would be en_title_d to apply to participate in this event and kick up a stink if denied equal opportunity to take part.

I find any kind of discrimination, be it negative, positive or otherwise, deeply offensive. It is this kind of segregation (however well intended) that leads to gettoisation, isolation and, looking back in history, concentration camps and mass-murder - over 6 million during WW2 not counting those rounded up and murdered for being disabled or gay.

Racism and anti-Semitism are unfortunately on the increase across much of Europe and so community cohesion and not separation should be the way forward to promote mutual respect, understanding and better cohesion of the entire population, particularly where public money is involved.

The Race Relations and as amended recognises the need to promote good relations between people of different ethnicities and cultures. I don’t see how this initiative encompasses the spirit of the Race Relations Act and as amended.

I can't believe that a show can't just be a show for talented people? Why cut off applicants because they're white? This seems utterly ridiculous and if they the situation were reversed I doubt anyone would be allowed to post an advert for an all white show? The show wasn't aimed at culture, it was aimed at race. White people have culture too but would never be allowed to celebrate it in an all white show and I wouldn't want them too. The bigger the mix the greater the diversity. Talent should stand for itself regardless of ethnicicity. To celebrate black culture is obviously a great thing but can't everyone celebrate their origins together rather than excluding other talent which surrounds us because they don't have the right skin colour to apply?????????