Black Model Refuses To Wear “Racist” Monkey Costume in FIT Fashion Show, Designer’s Concept Was To “Highlight Ugly Features Of The Body”

A Black model is shunning the Fashion Institute of Technology’s #NYFW runway show after refusing to wear a “racist” “monkey” costume.

The only trend that seems to be fashionable for some these days is gaslighting Black people through fashion. On Feb. 7, Amy Lefevre was geared up to walk the runway when she was pressured by FIT designers to wear “racist” accessories like “monkey ears” and oversized lips as a look for one fashion company.

“I stood there almost ready to break down, telling the staff that I felt incredibly uncomfortable with having to wear these pieces and that they were clearly racist,” Lefevre told the New York Post. “I was told that it was fine to feel uncomfortable for only 45 seconds.”

Lefevre has been modeling for four years and said that while she has experienced racism in her career, this moment was a breaking a point. “I was literally shaking. I could not control my emotions. My whole body was shaking. I have never felt like that in my life,” she said. “People of color are struggling too much in 2020 for the promoters not to have vetted and cleared accessories for the shows.”

Lefevre decided to walk the runway, but without the costume’s lips and ears. As soon as the show ended, Lefevre left. According to a press release, the event took place at Manhattan’s Pier59 Studios, and the look was created to portray the work of 10 alumni from FIT’s inaugural Master of Fine Arts class in fashion design. FIT professor and chair of the new MFA Fashion Design, #JonathanKyleFarmer, directed the show, and it was produced by #RichardThornn, creative director of British fashion production company NAMES LDN.

According to the New York Post, the designs were created by recent FIT grad #JunkaiHuang. Observers claimed that Huang was racially tone deaf when making the styles, as his original concept was to “highlight ugly features of the body,” according to a witness. When Lefevre told her agency, Q Model Management, about the incident, they were “furious.” But, a rep for the company reportedly told The Post they had received “conflicting reports” about the show that reportedly tried to make Lefevre’s story seem unreliable.

However, there were many students at the show that were defending Lefevre and warning Thornn not to showcase the racist designs. “They just don’t want their name to be anywhere near this,” Lefevre said. “We brought it up to [Thornn] multiple times,” the witness said. “We said, ‘She cannot wear this. This is wrong.’ He screamed in my face, ‘You need to back down and get away.’ It was such a grave lack of judgment.” Many students said they brought the issue up days prior to the show, yet they were ignored. Thornn, Huang, and Farmer have yet to respond to request for comment.

In a statement to the New York Post, FIT President Dr. Joyce F. Brown told The Post, “This program protects a student’s freedom to craft their own personal and unique artistic perspectives as designers, to be even what some would consider to be provocative so that they find that voice. However, provocative design and fashion might be, though, my commitment to ensure that people are not made to feel uncomfortable, offended, or intimidated is also of the utmost importance not only to me personally but to the college community as well. We take this obligation very, very seriously, and will investigate and take appropriate action regarding any complaint or concern that is made in this situation.”