A popular street style photographer [no names, let’s just call him Oreo Slyme] once told* me that photos of Brown and Black People don’t “sell” and he personally prefered photographing white girls, sorry, people.
That was in 2016, things are different now. “Diversity”. “Inclusivity”.
At one point Oreo Slyme and I were friendly acquaintances, he has talent AND hilariously was forced to photograph me for a mutual friend’s styling project.

[*I had asked him why he put his camera down when I walked past when just moments before he had been furiously clicking mediocrity in front of me. Think what you want. My motives are noble.]

Oreo Slyme says he can’t remember saying that when I reminded him this year [this only after his bizarre performative attempt at ‘friendliness’].
He sought me out later to yell at me that he photographs “lots of Black People! you bitter asshole!”.
Truth always hits a rectal nerve.
[Every time I saw him after, he was standing next to a Black prop, sorry, model. Optics.]

When you start seeing more REPRESENTATION of a country’s population at events that purport to be representative of the country [clue: country name in title], it gives a sense of common unity.
Seeing images of other global people on Runways and in Street, makes people believe they are welcome. Optics.

So it brings more to the shores. Where nobody knows your name unless it comes with numbers.
I don’t photograph the numbers people but I am inclusive, I have white friends.
I am a Style Linguist. I prefer seeing what other Linguists are saying in their own words. Not PR AI generated outfits.

Word on the street and socials is that this years AFW was a “failure”. It wasn’t.
As an industry event that represents the construct in the title, it hit its mark.
Parity is not the objective.