In reply to Dion:

Of course among Africans, even lighter skin vs. darker skin gets different perception. That type of stereotype might never go away, in cities such as Hong Kong, or Taipei or Tokyo, to have darker skin could be considered very fashionable, depending on how that person puts herself together, and it's a lot more popular to have tanned skin for Asians living in the West. I find that perception depends on where the angle is from, it changes if you look from different view point. If we only hear horror stories from Africa, then why do the press in the West insist on reporting only those stories? As if there are no uplifting stories taking place in Africa(that could explain why many Chinese were pissed at the western press that they of all different progress and human stories going on in China, insist on reporting heavily on the negatives and ignore so many other aspects, but that's another topic). There is a vibrant fashion community in South Africa, do fashion magazines in the west report on it? They are beginning to report stories in China, India, and the perception people have on China and India has changed a great deal since the 1980's. Perhaps we need to start looking elsewhere for new inspirations, and not just focus on the way western viewpoint sees things, and think that they set the standard for glamor. And different non white ethnic groups have to showcase their creation, their presentation of fashion, alongside what Vogue magazines are doing in the West, so we could see a whole range of what is actually going on around the world. I wonder, has Nick worked with fashion magazines that are not run by the white establishment? It would be easy for him to call up Trace magazine and offer to collaborate with them on fashion editorials featuring more non white models?
http://fashionartandeverything.blogspot.com/

In reply to KaWai:

Somehow you do see to forget that the whole world looks up to the WEST for so many reasons , beside the colonial ties created centuries ago ... whether that is a CURSE or a BLESSING in the matters of ' material' progress or anything else that is for each individual to decide ... Paris, London, New York are in fact the centre of the world ... however selfish that may sound, the world dreams of such places for whatever reason .... and that includes hordes of new Chinese tourists ... for them a glimpse of what is called the FREE WORLD !.....

The average westerner ... read hard working individuals are to busy with their own lives in order to pay their very high taxes and bills, trying to keep going ... they are not really thinking about what is going on for example .. in the fashion community of South Africa ... or Beijing ... that's the reality !

I know you would love to see that people would be more interested in the ' positive' stories about China ... the problem is CHINA is absolutely not interested in letting reporters in ..... so please allow yourself not to be blinded by the cliche thinking that the WEST is that evil monster who have nothing positive to say about anybody else in the world ... I don't think it works like that ... and on that note I would prefer to read about what the government of South Africa or Africa in general is doing to improve the lives of all its citizens, health and education for ALL its children than to have to read about ... the' fashionable ' in SOUTH AFRICA ... but then again PRIORITIES and TASTE vary from person to person and country to country ... and in my opinion , that is each individual's right whether we agree or disagree !!

In reply to Galileo's Universe:

Have you been to China?

In reply to KaWai:

What is the point of you question I would like to know ?

In reply to Galileo's Universe:

I think China would like to see unbiased reports on them, I think even for Chinese in mainland, or some living overseas, they feel the west is not doing a fair job in reporting on China, as there are tons of human stories going on in that country, of successes and failures, great changes and corruptions, goods and bads, progresses and backwardness.

In reply to Galileo's Universe:

"China is absolutely not interested in letting reporters in..."-you wrote that based on what? Go to China right now and see how many foreign journalists who are working and living there.