Racial discrimination lawsuits seem to be the order of the day in the fashion industry, recently. First, there was Tiffany & Co., and Alexander McQueen. Now, Perry Ellis International has stepped into the racial discrimination fray.
On Wednesday, Joseph Cook, the president of PEI-owned Original Penguin’s wholesale division, filed a lawsuit against the company in Manhattan Federal Court.
Cook contends in his lawsuit that he has suffered homophobic and racism at the hands of Original Penguin’s President and COO Peter Feldenkreis.
Cook alleges that in 2013 Feldenkreis instructed him that there should be “no blacks in my ads” and that he “did not want anyone who looked too gay.” Cook is openly homosexual.
PEI responded to the allegations in an article in Vogue UK “Perry Ellis is a company that promotes equal opportunity and a positive working environment. The company is proud of the fact that it is probably one of the most diverse companies in the apparel business following its multicultural roots, stemming from Puerto Rico and Cuba. Perry Ellis categorically denies any allegations to the contrary. The claims that have been asserted will be vigorously defended against.”
PEI’s fall 2015 campaign includes models of color. Hmm, maybe Black Lives Matter should step in!!
Raf Simons exits
After three years at the helm of the House of Dior, Raf Simons has called it quits. The Dior spring 2016 presented during Paris Fashion Week was the last Raf Simons’ collection for the esteemed Parisian fashion house.
“It’s after deep reflection that I have decided to quit my post as creative director for Christian Dior’s women’s collection,” Raf Simons said in a statement in a fashionmag.com article. “It’s a decision founded on one hand by my desire to concentrate on other centres of interest in my life, notably my own label, as well as the passions that motivate me beyond my professional activities,” Simons said, adding that it had been an “immense privilege” to work for Dior.
Raf Simons assumed the position of creative director for Dior after John Galliano was fired from the brand in 2011.
Galliano expands Maison Margiela
John Galliano lets no grass grow under his feet. Since his appointment as creative director of Maison Margiela, Galliano has big plans for the international European fashion house.
It was revealed in WWD, that Galliano has plans for the luxury brand to produce more product categories including menswear and women’s perfume. L’Oreal will release the women’s perfume in 2017, and the brand’s menswear line will debut in 2016.
—William S. Gooch
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