BEVERLY HILLS, CA – MARCH 04: Model Naomi Campbell attends the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 4, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Former supermodel and British Vogue contributor Naomi Campbell suggested that Vogue expand its reach. Campbell called on the fashion magazine to launch an African edition to account for the contributions the continent has given to fashion.
Campbell was at Arise Fashion Week in Lagos, Nigeria, that featured 45 designers from 14 different African countries. She told Reuters, “There should be a Vogue Africa.” Adding that Middle East Vogue was just launched last year. “We just had Vogue Arabia — it is the next progression. It has to be. Africa has never had the opportunity to be out there and their fabrics and their materials and their designs be accepted on the global platform … It shouldn’t be that way,” she continued.
Condé Nast, Vogue’s publisher, told The Independent via a spokesperson, “Talent is so important not only to create our magazines but also to ensure that the market has a good landscape to write about and work with, [for example] a strong fashion community in the case of Vogue.” They continued, “We have considered Africa as a possible market for Vogue. It is something that we are looking at, but we don’t want to rush or make any quick decisions.”
Despite Campbell’s push for an African edition of Vogue, not everyone was in favor.
we don’t need a vogue africa, we need one of our own publications to be as esteeemed as a vogue africa
— 𝐟𝐤𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐱 (@tnxbk) April 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/thatfunke/status/980854197825495042
I think Vogue Africa is an interesting idea. But which other Vogue represents an entire continent? There are so many countries, cultures and languages in Africa. Who and what would be considered "African"?
— Didintle Ntshudisane (@DidintleN) April 4, 2018
Those in favor of a Vogue Africa became excited at the prospect of the magazine representing the diverse African countries.
Yes. In fact the continent is big enough for multiple Vogues.
Vogue Kenya
Vogue South Africa
Vogue Nigeria (perhaps Vogue ECOWAS 😁)
Vogue Angola
Vogue North Africa https://t.co/tevX0NsDPV— Ronke Lawal (@ronkelawal) April 2, 2018
Vogue Africa? Nothing but every shade of brown in a Vogue magazine? Imagine. I’d need every copy.
— niyoncé (@cirquedusoleeil) April 3, 2018
