Naomi Campbell & Jourdan Dunn Star in Awesome New Burberry Campaign
Naomi Campbell and Jourdan Dunn in the Burberry Spring/Summer 2015 campaign. Photo: Mario Testino/Burberry
Over the weekend, Burberry released its Spring/Summer 2015 campaign featuring Naomi Campbell and Jourdan Dunn, two of the hottest models in fashion. Lensed by Mario Testino, it is the first time that the brand has exclusively featured two women of color in its ads, although both have appeared in previous campaigns (this is Dunn’s fourth time, while Campbell was featured with Kate Moss in 2001). From musicians to famous spawn like Romeo Beckham, Christopher Bailey, Burberry’s Chief Creative and Chief Executive Officer, always supports his fellow countrymen. And this colorful ad is particularly well-timed.
Let’s start with the obvious. Race is at the forefront of everyone’s mind right now. The deaths of unarmed African-American men in Ferguson, MO, and New York City has rightfully caused a national uproar. Meanwhile the head of Sony Pictures and Hollywood’s top producer were caught making egregiously insensitive racial comments toward the President. And Bill Cosby, America’s fatherly patron, has fallen.
And sure, other than commenting on what the First Lady wears, fashion has very little stake in politics, but Bailey is wise enough to know that his brand is appreciated by all people, no matter the color of their skin. Clothing is a reflection of what’s happening in society and how you dress in the morning is an extension of how you feel. Fashion houses spend all of their time and energy concocting campaigns that are intended to be powerful and striking (how else would they catch your eye to buy the clothes?), and other than fashion shows, it is the most poignant way in which they deliver a message. Do you think it’s a coincidence that Bailey, an acutely aware individual, chose to drop the news of this campaign the day after the Millions March stormed New York City and Washington DC?
Naomi Campbell and Jourdan Dunn in the Burberry Spring/Summer 2015 campaign. Photo: © Copyright Burberry/Testino
Burberry doesn’t raise the issue of race in its press release; it doesn’t have to. The images speak for themselves. “Naomi and Jourdan—two great British icons, two strong, beautiful women, and the two perfect faces for our new campaign. It is, as always, a real privilege to work with them,” he said in a statement.
The showcased items in the campaign are also not elitist, even if these hand-painted pieces ring in at a higher-than-normal price point. (To wit: nearly every woman owns a trench coat.) The colors are vibrant and cheerful, and Campbell and Dunn are engaged in a strong embrace, offering knowing smirks. They had to have known how important this is. Fashion cannot yet claim to be a bastion for diversity by any means (there are still major fashion bibles who have yet to feature a person of color for their covers in 2014), but at least brands like Burberry are leading by example.
Related: London Fashion Week Report: Burberry Leaves Us Buzzing
So what is to be made of this? And why do we still even need to be talking about something so obvious as social equality? For that we turn to Twitter where the reaction among the masses has been overwhelmingly positive.
What do you think of the campaign?
