IMG Models honcho Ivan Bart has put a challenge to major fashion designers to cast “the most diverse runway show ever.”
Bart said he’ll work with casting director James Scully, a vocal industry advocate for models of color. “We’re going to appeal to . . . major designers. We’re going to have the most diverse show: multisize, multigenerational, different races,” said Bart at Fashion Culture Design, a new conference launched by ex-Parsons fashion dean Simon Collins.
Bart even got a jump on the casting with two fellow panelists at the conference — plus-size model Ashley Graham and Sudanese-British model Alek Wek. “Alek will open, Ashley will close,” said Bart.