Aamna Aqeel Denies 'Be My Slave' Editorial Is Blatantly Colonial & Racist

Young Pakistani designer Aamna Aqeel insists that her latest photo shoot “Be My Slave” is intended to call attention to the problem of child labor among the monied class. My own fuse is much longer on the topic of racist content than many of the other fashion bloggers.

“Be My Slave” is a blatent attempt to create controversy, and Aqeel has succeeded. 

Rather than the hysterical, breast-beating going on over at Styleite, the original article in The Express Tribune, published in association with The Herald Tribune is far more thoughtful: Slavery Is Still Not An Acceptable Theme For Your Fashion Spread.

Salima Feerasta writes that fashion loves to be provocative, and we have come to expect the offensive. Yours truly believes that America is political correctness gone mad, but I’m right with Feerasta on condeming this shoot for one key reason.

Without a doubt, the model wearing the brand is very comfortable being in the dominant position, with the dark-skinned child subservient.  This is no Smart Sensuality woman brand campaign but one dedicated to the heartless women who employ child labor and have no problem with it. It wouldn’t surprise me to read they are friends of designer Aamna Aqeel — these cold-blooded, modern values fashionistas.

Can you imagine Angelina Jolie appearing in such images? Shakira? No way! They are women truly dedicated to helping change lives for children worldwide. “Be My Slave” is nauseating.  ~ Anne

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Barbara Palvin in Blue Velvet Mood for Intimissimi 2013 By Matthias Zentner

Intimissimi 2013 from Apart Collective on Vimeo.

Angelina Jolie In 'Horseplay' By David LaChapelle

Angelina Jolie by David LaChapelle

I spend a lot of time on Smart Sensuality woman Angelina Jolie’s philanthropic and social activism persona. Angelina always sizzles but a never-before-seen image of a topless 25-year-old Angelina Jolie posing topless with a horse is set to go under the hammer at Christie’s.

LaChapelle shot the image as an outtake from a 2001 Rolling Stone magazine feature and is part of a Christie’s exhibition entitled “The Wild Side of Photography.”  It’s expected to fetch between £25,000 and £35,0000, although Jolie’s partner Brad Pitt says he is prepared to pay a top amount to keep the image in his family.

Also being sold by Steven Klein is a staged scene of then couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt around a family dinner table entitled Case Study No. 13.

Angelina Jolie, the mother-of-six also serves as a special envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and recently joined forces with Foreign Secretary William Hague in announcing £23m funding from G-8 nations to go towards a series of measures for preventing sexual violence and ensuring justice for its survivors.

Jolie welcomed the “long overdue stand” on sexual violence, saying that for too long international political will to prevent it has been “sorely lacking.” Track Angelina’s philanthropy and activist activities here.

Film | Centre Spread by Julia Kennedy and Lucy Spink

CENTRE SPREAD, A film by Julia Kennedy and Lucy Spink from Julia Kennedy on Vimeo.

The Vimeo credits call ‘Centre Spread’ a KILLER FASHION FILM, written and directed by Julia Kennedy, with production designed by Lucy Spink. No lie!!

Starring Guy Combes as a rake as well as fashion photographer, ‘Centre Spread’ takes the shooting of models to another level. Hope Von Joel styles the young model groupies Beth Ogden, Anna Korzun, Cassandra Smith, Kajsa Mohammar and Gogo Leon in this fabulous fashion examination. Hair by Claire Rothstein and Peter Beckett; makeup by Annabel Callum.

More credits at Vimeo.

A Veiled Pernilla Fransander By Michael David Adams for Qvest Magazine

Don West wraps Pernilla Fransander in texture rich headwraps for the up-close and sensual shots of Michael David Adams. Pernilla radiates strength and beauty from behind the veil in this Qvest Magazine spread. We all know that veils are complex fabrications here at Anne of Carversville. They enhance and simultaneously hide. Veils are deeply associated for making women property, denoting status and purity.

At AOC we tell women’s stories “from fashion to flogging”. Veils are a key fashion element in how these stories have unfolded over the centuries.

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Unbridled Female Desire By Sophia Rotas & Mark Viszlay For Don't Shoot the Messengers Bodywear

Dæmon Concept 1 # by Sophie Rotas and Mark Viszlay presented by Nero Homme from Nero Homme Studio on Vimeo.

Alright! We have big news to announce shortly with Anne officially taking a walk on the wild side in a new ‘permanent’ marketing collaboration with a very upscale, delicious art magazine, my voice and our GlamTribale jewelry collection.

So this Daemon Concept 1 video by Sophia Rotas and Mark Viszlay presented by Nero Homme gets my attention this morning.

Staring Dorothy Bohner @ Icon Model Management/@ Why Not Milan, Rotas and Viszlay push beyond sizzling into an artful, in your face documentation of female sensuality and power.

Admittedly, the Strange VIP - When I Die music works to maximize the effect of one tantalizing video. But the pulsing pace of the imagery is perfect in capturing unbridled female desire on the verge of exploding into a fashion orgasm for Berlin’s ‘Don’t Shoot The Messengers’ bodywear with shoes by Eniko Toth.

SOMA Magazine writes

Jen Gilpin, DSTM’s 34-year-old Canadian founder, established the label when she arrived in Berlin five years ago. Now, with the opening of her new boutique (and adjacent open workshop) in Berlin’s increasingly “luxus” neighborhood of Mitte, Gilpin and DTSM are fast becoming ubiquitous among the city’s most decadent style tribes.

“The base of the line is silk and leather,” says Gilpin. “I like this contrast of soft and hard, we pull it through the collections with the materials and the attitude. There is a sort of tough elegance that we strive for and find beautiful in the women we dress.”

Something tells me Dorothy won’t be hooking up with 50 Shades Christian Grey any time soon. More please! Simply Splendid! ~ Anne

Full credits

nerohomme.com/about_us

film by
Sophia Rotas and Mark Viszlay presented by Nero Homme

bodywear
Dont Shoot The Messengers

shoes
Eniko Toth Kern commissioned by stylist

music
Strange VIP - When I Die
Courtesy of Trouble & Bass Recordings (2013)
troubleandbass.com

model
Dorothy Bohner @ Icon Model Management / @ Why Not Milan

hairstylist
Balazs Barsi using Kevin Murphy

make up artist
Natasa Kovalik

post production
Levente Hodi @ Umbrella Studios

production assistants:

Sofyia Urban
Jannis Birsner

assistants

Istvan Varfi
Lina Brigi Vince

special thanks:
Csaba Müllner
Emil Goodman
Horn Marton and Makay Lina @ Akvarium klub

Image courtesy of Nero Homme Studio LTD. all rights reserved

Jem Mitchell Snaps Matt Woodhouse & Igor Stepanov For GQ Germany

Jem Mitchell gets up close and intimate with Matt Woodhouse and Igor Stepanov for a steamy, sensual GQ Germany spread. 

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