Cheers for the differences. The long interview The Washington Post has dedicated yesterday to Franca Sozzani, Editor in Chief of Vogue Italy, it is a paean to her creed: to bear diversities in mind. Robin Givhan, Fashion Editor of the American newspaper, collected Sozzani's confessions about how has grown the idea of giving more space and support to the categories "different" from the ones that usually run the catwalks. In fact not just Vogue magazine, but also Vogue.it website, have welcomed the section Black, focused on the models but also on culture, fashion and arts coming from the black continent, the section Curvy, apology of the curved shapes and finally the Talents one, section committed with the young fashion designers, some of whom Vogue wanted for the big parade last September in Piazza Duomo in Milan.

 

Franca Sozzani's choices are brave. She perfectly understands how giving space - or even an entire issue on July 2008 - fro instance to black fashion does not mean talking just of fashion itself, but also dealing with racism, discrimination, integration. "We cannot use only these girls who are the same," Sozzani says observing the many thin, blond, blue-eyes figures parading on the catwalks: we must bet on the world differences.

 

The turnabout the most prestigious fashion monthly is experimenting is also a result of the changes Italian society is knowing in this historical moment: a growing immigration rate, but also a fatter population, have been for long issues without a voice on the dedicated magazines. It is not just a marketing strategy, it is much more: "For me, it became a commitment," Sozzani said. "I talked to these girls. I promised to take care of them".