Vogue India Stirs Political and Social Controversy

Fashion has always been associated with high priced luxury items and Vogue magazine is notarized for carrying some of the latest, trendiest, most valued products in the industry. Vogue India however, has recently stirred political and social controversy with its September issue.

Several of the the magazine's fashion spreads depict barefoot children wearing Fendi bibs being carried through the village by toothless grandmothers carrying Hermes bags. One man is in the background walking with a Burberry umbrella.

These products cost over $200 dollars or more. India functions socially under a caste system with many of the population living in poverty. Many of these people earn as little as a dollar a day.

Normally, I admire Vogue for their portrayal of current fashion but in this particular edition, I feel that the products were poorly advertised. Vogue made a very strong statement about their values and insensitivity to human needs. A real statement has been made but it is sending the wrong message.

Although a fashion based magazine, Vogue could have had the opportunity to make a political statement about the poor living conditions and social discrimination the people of India face. This would have been a better way to use their spread and provide the chance to help others and shine a light on the fashion industry.