Is Inclusive the New Exclusive for Retailers?

This year’s customary New York Fashion Week production from Marc Jacobs had all the makings of a buzzed-about fashion show—wacky invites, celebrity attendees, and a theatric backdrop. But amid the post-show slideshow of looks, there was a surprising addition: plus-size model and singer Beth Ditto, smizing for the camera while adorned in an embellished white strapless dress.

The appearance of a plus-size model among the typically skinny models gracing fashion runways is slowly transitioning from an outlier to a trend. Designers Zoe Latta and Mike Eckhaus have peppered their runways with a diverse range of models—“nodels,” or non-models, as they call them—that come in a variety of ages, sizes, and skin colors. The move has garnered the brand positive press from a variety of publications, including the New York Times, Quartz, and Vogue. Designer Carrie Hammer’s February fashion show, dubbed “Role Models Not Runway Models,” also sidestepped traditional models for female CEOs, writers, entrepreneurs, and actress Jamie Brewer, the first model with Down syndrome to walk the runway.

Continue reading on Retail Dive for the full story featuring commentary from Vivaldi CEO & Founder Erich Joachimsthaler on how retailers are adapting to millennials’ views on social inclusivity and self expression.