The popular and affordable clothing store H&M has been venturing off into the high-fashion world, and their latest Paris Fashion Week show made some major statements. Not only was the show filled with a brand new and gorgeous collection, but it was the most diverse cast of superstar models a runway has probably ever seen.
There were women of color, plus-size models, mothers, transgender women and even some actresses on this inspirational runway. With this diverse runway of models of all ages, colors, shapes and sizes, H&M made up for the lack of diversity we typically see in the fashion world. This past year alone, the industry has made some major positive changes by featuring models that aren't just the typical skinny white girl, and H&M just proved something important.
"We have such beautiful heritage and folklore, flora and fauna, and then our pop culture icons like Ingrid Bergman for example. I've used her to explore masculinity and suiting mixed with more feminine fabrics," head designer Ann-Sofie Johansson told Yahoo Style of the latest collection. "It's always a mix of different images, because I want the collection to have versatility, so people can wear the clothes in many different ways."
The runway featured 15 looks, worn by women of color, six mothers, six women with natural hair, five models 30 years or older, two transgender women, 65-year-old fashion legend Pat Cleveland and her daughter Anna, actress Hari Nef, plus-size beauty Ashley Graham, and supermodels Amber Valletta, Anja Rubik, Freja Beha, Jourdan Dunn, Taylor Hill and Andreja Pejic. By including this mixed cast of women, H&M proved that its clothes can be worn by everyone and that any girl can be trendy.
"H&M is all about diversity, has always been, and this time we wanted to put more focus on that," Johansson explained backstage. "Anybody should be able to enjoy fashion, whatever you are, whatever your looks are."
As if the runway wasn't exciting enough, the audience was filled with several big names like Ciara, Kata Mara and her boyfriend Jamie Bell, Emma Roberts, Suki Waterhouse, Daniel Day Lewis's son Gabriel, Atlanta de Cadenet and Olivia Palermo.
The collection itself was an ode to models across the decades, specifically touching on 1970s style. The brand also celebrated its Swedish heritage with feminine silhouettes and emphasis on the shoulders, waist and layered styles. The inspiration for the line? "Strong women and the beauty of independent minds."
"This collection is about the strength and beauty of women, and how we express that power through our style," Johansson said. "I love the contrast of strong tailoring with handicraft touches of Swedish heritage and folklore. "
The collection will officially launch in stores and online just in time for fall on September 8.
