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#BlackModelsMatter: 'Statement' Bag Makes Important Point About Diversity At New York Fashion Week

'Statement' Bag Makes Important Point About Diversity At New York Fashion Week
Ellen Wallwork
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Carrying a "statement" bag doesn't usually involve making much of a statement, but one model and artist has used her arm candy to make an important point about diversity at New York Fashion Week.

Ashley B. Chew customised her large black handbag by writing BLACK MODELS MATTER across it in white paint.

Speaking to HuffPost UK Style Chew said: "Diversity in the fashion industry is very frustrating at times but it is getting better with some designers."

Chew's bag's slogan, which draws on the words of the Black Lives Matter movement, caused quite a stir as Chew said on Instagram: "People have lost their minds, my bag took more photos than I did in 11 hours".

Chew teamed her bag with a white tank top she designed in the style of a Pantone colour swatch with the work BLACKNESS.

"I individually hand silkscreen each shirt," Chew said. "These shirts sold out in hours back in April, but I'm thinking when I get home to Indianapolis, I will have to roll out another batch due to the attention both the shirt and bag have been getting. So many New York Fashion Week goers have been asking me!"

Chew walked the runway at the FTL Moda New York Fashion Week show, which was opened by model of the moment Madeline Stuart.

"FTL Moda are devoted to casting models of diversity no matter what disability, age, ethnicity, and overall appearance," Chew said.

"Its 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.

"As a black model and fine artist it is disappointing sometimes to walk into a casting and seeing later in runways they didn't cast a model of colour.

"Overall there have been changes made, some in the industry have been absolutely fantastic with representing an entire spectrum of beauty."

The Huffington Post has recently launched our #NYFW4All and #LFW4All campaign to highlight moments in Fashion Week that include people of all skin tones, genders, sizes, shapes and personalities - and we are happy to say Chew is on board with our message.

"I would be honored to help in representing the NYFW4All campaign," she said. "Many of these models I look up to, myself, my art, my style is a reflection of the beauty of women of colour."

We applaud Chew's use of fashion to bring more attention to diversity and inclusivity to the catwalk.

SEE ALSO:

Upcoming Models Of Colour To Watch On The Catwalk: Be Part Of Our #NYFW4All And #LFW4All Campaign

Lane Bryant's 'Plus Is Equal' Campaign Calls For Body Diversity In The Media

Model With Bionic Arm Walking At #NYFW: 'I'm Nervous But In A Good Way'

25 Influential Black Models
Donyale Luna(01 of25)
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The Detroit native, who was born Peggy Ann Freeman, graced the 1966 cover of British Vogue, just eight years before Beverly Johnson landed on the American version of the magazine. She also showed off her acting chops in Andy Warhol's "Camp" and Federico Fellini's "Satyricon." Photo: Time Life Pictures / Getty Images (credit:Time Life Pictures / Getty Images)
Princess Elizabeth of Toro(02 of25)
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The Ugandan royal's style resume reads impressively: modeling in a 1967 British fashion show hosted by the United Kingdom's Princess Margaret, posing for a spread in American Vogue and sharing the November 1969 cover of Harper's Bazaar. Photo: Evening Standard / Getty Images (credit:Evening Standard / Getty Images)
Naomi Sims(03 of25)
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Considered the "first black supermodel" for appearing on the cover of Ladies Home Journal in November 1968, Sims' career included modeling for leading designers like Halston and Giorgio di Sant'Angelo, as well as create a multimillion-dollar hair extensions line. Photo: Yale Joel, Time & Life Pictures / Getty Images (credit:Yale Joel, Time & Life Pictures / Getty Images)
Beverly Johnson(04 of25)
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Johnson did the unimaginable when she landed the August 1974 cover of American Vogue. The model went on secure over 500 magazine covers, launch a line of wigs and snag a reality show deal on Oprah's OWN network.Photo: Francesco Scavullo, from "Nostalgia In Vogue"
Mounia(05 of25)
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The Martinique-born beauty (pictured lower right) was the first black model Yves Saint Laurent used in his haute couture shows. Photo: Foc Kan, WireImage (credit:Foc Kan, WireImage)
Grace Jones(06 of25)
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Before penning electro dance hits like "Pull Up to the Bumper" and showing off her acting chops in "Conan the Destroyer" and "Boomerang," Jones' started out as a model for Andy Warhol. Michael Ochs Archive, Getty Images (credit:Michael Ochs Archive, Getty Images)
Versailles Models of 1973(07 of25)
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Amina Warsuma, Charlene Dash, Norma Jean Darden, Bethann Hardison, Pat Cleveland and China Machado were among 11 models to participate in a fashion face-off between five American designers and and five French designers at the Palace of Versailles. They were honored last fall as "Game Changers" by the The Huffington Post.Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
Versailles Models of 1973(08 of25)
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Pat Cleveland, Amina Warsuma and designer Stephen Burrows (center). Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
Versailles Models of 1973(09 of25)
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China Machado. Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
Versailles Models of 1973(10 of25)
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Alva Chinn. Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
Versailles Models of 1973(11 of25)
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Norma Jean Darden. Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
Billie Blair(12 of25)
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As one of the top paid runway models during the '70s and '80s, Blair went from strutting her stuff at auto shows to the catwalks of Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior and Calvin Klein. Photo: Rose Hartman, WireImage (credit:Rose Hartman, WireImage)
Iman(13 of25)
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After successfully completing her first modeling assignment for Vogue in 1976, Iman has built an illustrious fashion portfolio including countless magazine covers, editorial spreads, starring in Michael Jackson's "Remember The Time" video and creating cosmetics for women of color. Photo: Ron Galella, WireImage
Renauld White(14 of25)
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White was the first African-American model to appear on the November 1979 cover of GQ. In addition to scoring a major ad campaign with Black Tie cologne, he worked the runways of Bill Blass, Calvin Klein, Valentino and Armani. Photo: Neilson Barnard, Getty Images (credit:Neilson Barnard, Getty Images)
Katoucha Niane(15 of25)
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Known as "The Black Princess," Katoucha was the muse of fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent and modeled for other designers including Christian Lacroix and Thierry Mugler. Photo: Pierre Guillaud, AFP / Getty Images (credit:Pierre Guillaud, AFP / Getty Images)
Waris Dirie(16 of25)
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The Somali-born model and former James Bond girl was discovered by British photographer Terence Donovan at the age of 18. She secured the cover of the 1987 Pirelli Calendar and appeared in ads for Chanel, Levi's, L'Oreal and Revlon. Photo: Anita Bugge, WireImage (credit:Anita Bugge, WireImage)
Naomi Campbell(17 of25)
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Campbell's staying power in the fashion world is built on many firsts, including being the first black supermodel to appear on the covers of Time magazine and French and British Vogue. Photo: Ron Galella, WireImage (credit:Ron Galella, WireImage)
Veronica Webb(18 of25)
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Having appeared in British Vogue, on the cover of French Elle, and Italian Vogue, Webb had a major career breakthrough in 1992 when she signed an exclusive contract with cosmetics giant Revlon, becoming the first black model to do so. Photo: Rose Hartman, WireImage (credit:Rose Hartman, WireImage)
Tyra Banks(19 of25)
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Getting her feet wet on the Parisian runways at a very young age, Tyra's standout moments was when she became the first African-American woman to appear on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. Photo: WireImage
Tyson Beckford(20 of25)
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The Bronx-born hunk became the face of Polo Sport when he signed an exclusive two-year contract with Ralph Lauren in 1993. He was later tapped to front Tommy Hilfiger, Guess Raw Denim and Sean John. Photo: Evan Agostini, Liaison / Getty Images (credit:Evan Agostini, Liaison / Getty Images)
Kimora Lee Simmons(21 of25)
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From earning an exclusive contract with Chanel (and becoming Karl Lagerfeld's muse) to posing for famed photographers Peter Lindberg, Annie Leibovitz and Patrick Demarchellier, Simmons has worked very hard since the tender age of 13 to live her "life in the fab lane." Photo: Evan Agostini/Liaison
Roshumba(22 of25)
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Roshumba, whose name means "beautiful" in Swahili, started her careers as a fit model for Yves Saint Laurent before going on to walk in the designer's haute couture shows and appearing in the coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. Photo: Galella, Ltd., WireImage (credit:Ron Galella, Ltd., WireImage)
Joy Bryant(23 of25)
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Bryant introduced a new ideal of the girl next door appearing in ads for Gap, Victoria's Secret, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. Photo: Fashionmodeldirectory.com (credit:Fashionmodeldirectory.com)
Liya Kebede(24 of25)
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The Ethiopian stunner set the international runways ablaze with her good looks and grace. However, her star catapulted in 2003 when she was named the newest face of Estee Lauder -- the first woman of color to front the cosmetics brand. Now she's designing a clothing line called lemlem. Photo Courtesy of L'Oreal
Jessica White(25 of25)
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Cat fights and arrests aside, White has built quite the career using her gorgeous looks, including walking the runways for Marc Jacobs, Oscar de la Renta and Ralph Lauren, becoming a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue cover girl; and representing women of color as a spokesmodel for Maybelline. Photo Courtesy of Maybelline
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