Inspired by the #BlackLivesMatter movement, Indiana-based artist and designer Ashley Chew attended New York Fashion Week on Monday with a hand-painted "Black Models Matter" bag.
This purse immediately became a street style star in its own right. "People have lost their minds, my bag took more photos than I did in 11hrs," Chew wrote on her Instagram account.
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Black Lives Matter is a movement and organization that rose in response to violence against black people, including police brutality. The call has since gained international attention around issues of racial justice.
Corporate Beyoncé Spring 2016 looks & aesthetic. A photo posted by @ash_chew on Sep 14, 2015 at 11:01am PDT
Chew also donned a T-shirt inspired by the Pantone color swatch. She had designed and sold the shirt in April 2014 but is considering re-releasing it because of the attention the bag has gotten.
Love this #blackmodelsmatter A photo posted by - YOROKOBI - JOY (@yorokobi1_) on Sep 13, 2015 at 3:29pm PDT
Many have taken to Instagram to repost the bag as well as tweet their support for the Black Models Matter message.
#blackmodelsmatter unity at Fashion Week is appreciated. Keep representin girls— Mani® (@ImaniB12) September 15, 2015
#blackmodelsmatter #NYFW #newyorkfashionweek #fashionweek #newyorkcity #newyork #style #styling #model #models #casting A photo posted by gazeLLe paulo (@gazellepaulo) on Sep 14, 2015 at 4:54pm PDT
@ash_chew tellin' it like it is at #NYFW #blackmodelsmatter A photo posted by @unwrinkling on Sep 13, 2015 at 6:31pm PDT
Chew is also a model and walked in the FTL Moda NYFW show on Sunday, alongside model Rebekah Marine, who has a bionic arm, and Madeline Stuart, a model with Down syndrome.
@hendrikvermeulencouture Spring 2016. A photo posted by @ash_chew on Sep 14, 2015 at 10:43am PDT
"FTL Moda are devoted to casting models of diversity no matter what disability, age, ethnicity and overall appearance," Chew told HuffPost UK. "It's refreshing to walk a runway that celebrates all types of beauty, but this is not always the case. I have seen many shows over the years, and the ethnic model ratio is still very poor with some shows."
....AND love this look! That shirt tho! Ashley/@lmodelz A photo posted by leslie turner (@lesleo0809) on Sep 15, 2015 at 6:03am PDT
There is a lack of diversity in the fashion industry. Even recent fashion weeks have included small percentages of black models and designers. Supermodel Naomi Campbell recently shared that only 6.8% of 2014 runway shows featured black models; she vowed not to quit modeling until there was in increase in representation of black models in fashion. Model Nykhor Paul has also taken to her Instagram to communicate her frustration with makeup artists who are unwilling and unable to do makeup on women with dark skin tones.