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Designer says Naomi Campbell’s bullet hole dress shows black people are ‘seen as a walking target’


‘It’s an artistic statement’ (Picture: BACKGRID)

Naomi Campbell caused a stir when she wore a white dress with a fake bullet hole and blood at London Fashion Week earlier this month – and now the designer of the dress has spoken out.

The 49-year-old supermodel hosted her annual Fashion For Relief gala on the 14 September. One of the outfits she wore was a white dress featuring what appeared to be a gunshot wound with blood streaming out.

The dress was largely applauded, YouTube vlogger and influencer Patricia Bright wrote alongside a video of the dress: ‘Also notice her dress (a gun shot wound) there was so many underlying messages in the show and clothing even to the last minute how amazing [sic].’

‘It screams my lived experience as a black person’ (Picture: Splash News)

But, given the controversial nature of the fashion statement, designer Mowalola Ogunlesi took to Instagram to make an official statement: ‘I make clothes to challenge people’s minds,’ she said.

‘This gown is from my collection “Coming For Blood” – a delving into the horrific feeling of falling in love.

‘This dress is extremely emotional to me – it screams my lived experience as a black person.’

The designer added: ‘It shows no matter how well dressed you are or well behaved, we are time after time, seen as a walking target.

‘I’m in a privileged position to be able to speak on issues that others would be silenced on. Inequality is still rife and newspapers clawing at my work is testament to that.’

Writing in the comments under Mowalola’s post Naomi added her support: ‘This dress is not about glamourising gun crime in any way. It’s an artistic statement.

‘I support @mowalola, who’s doing such great work and is passionate about bringing such a serious issue to light through her designs. Proud of you and your courage, as we are still in the grips of trying to balance diversity In the UK.’

The Fashion For Relief gala aims to fight poverty and disadvantaged people around the world and has raised millions in donations over the last 14 years.

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