In an industry where even the cheapest pair of Prada wedges costs as much as some of our weekly minimum-wage paychecks, we find the jobs themselves can be just as hard to come by as the products. There’s many different reasons for the fashion industry’s selective nature, but it can be narrowed down to one leading factor — nepotism.
The term “nepo baby” may have been coined by Gen Z social media users, but the success rates of offspring of powerful and connected socialites have long been prevalent, especially within the fashion community.
Most recently, all eyes were on Anna Wintour, former editor-in-chief of American Vogue, to name her successor. Her top choice was Chloe Malle, daughter of American actress Candice Bergen and French film director Louis Malle.
Chloe Malle, having worked at American Vogue since 2011 in various positions, has multiple credentials to support her new head role. She has edited and created media for the magazine across multiple different platforms including digital and print, but her lineage alone raises the question on the nature of the decision.
As for the forthcoming future, fashion gurus everywhere will be intently watching Malle’s moves, as many are skeptical if she will be able to live up to her predecessor.
A change in the company can be a promising and exciting thing for consumers who are tired of the Wintour reign, however an air of disappointment lingers when the nepotism card has been played again.
Not only prevalent in fashion, many other art industries are being impacted by nepotism.
Film, TV and all other media spaces have had their share of famous children trying for their own fame. While it may be fun to dissect these prominent family trees, nepotism can have a real cost on the industry. As more connected people enter these creative spaces, it becomes harder for newcomers and every day people to find their own area.
Due to the normality of nepotism in any arts industry, Chloe Malle’s famous past wasn’t a shock to many as the world of high fashion has always been run by and for the uber-wealthy and connected.
Take a look at Stella McCartney. The English designer is renowned in the fashion community, but the start of her career and her first successes can be attributed to her famous father, Paul McCartney and “The Beatles” fame.
Her first internship was with French designer Christian Lacroix at just sixteen, and her thesis collection was showcased by supermodels Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell who were at the height of their career — something only an up-and-coming designer could dream of.
None of these achievements could be possible for a student designer, but the McCartney name allowed Stella McCartney to further her fashion career to where it is now. While she has undeniable skill in her craft, it’s easy to assume she would’ve had difficulty making a name for herself if her father wasn’t a Beatle.
Nepotism and high fashion are woven together like the fabrics designers fawn over. With nepotism being deeply accepted within the community, not only are designer clothing and accessories becoming entirely unattainable, but the jobs within the industry are just as hard to come by as the pieces for sale.
As more jobs go to nepo babies, it’s evident how unreachable the world of fashion really is for the everyday person. From one of a kind handbags to editorial positions, it seems the fashion world is only becoming more and more exclusive. Couture already exists as a culture for the ultra wealthy, and restricting jobs to the well connected can only continue to push more and more creatives out of the industry.
