NEW YORK CITY—Pornhub, the world famous adult clip site, is actually no stranger to promoting fashion. It's covered at least parts of Fashion Weeks in Mexico City, Miami and New York, and even collaborated with the streetwear brand Richardson for a showing of its Hood By Air line in 2016. But this year, "The Hub" is going even further: It's hooked up with the famous designer company Namilia for a runway show devoted to that company's Asian-influenced sex-positive fashions, all to be modeled by adult stars Asa Akira, Marica Hase and Jade Kush.
"Namilia is a Berlin-based brand," explained Akira, who's currently serving as Pornhub's Brand Ambassador. "It's these two designers Nan Li and Emilia Pfohl, and their names combine to make the name Namilia, and they're a brand that's very sex-positive; they're very feminist. A lot of their clothing has really almost in-your-face feminist phrases written on them, and they're also specifically really porn-positive. They have a really famous line called Born For Porn, and they work with really cool progressive feminist artists. Brooke Candy is someone they've worked with a lot; the Claremont twins; and Cardi B. is someone they've been dressing since the beginning of her career, so it's really cool. I'm really, really excited about this."
The collection that the three stars will be modeling is called Herotica, and part of the reason for choosing Asian adult stars for the runway is in itself a political statement.
"Half of the brand—it's a man and a woman; the man is Asian; they're definitely a very Asian-influenced brand," Akira noted. "Also, I think the message of the show is, they're really kind of taking stereotypes and taking it back; like the stereotype of an overly sexual woman or a slut or Asian, so there's a few themes going on there, but it's definitely taking stereotypes and flipping them on their back and taking it back. They honestly don't give the models too much information, but I want to say that it's either fully or mostly Asian women walking the runway. Certainly, it's 100 percent women of color."
Or as Nan Li told the New York Post's Page Six column, "The cosmos of sexual pleasure has been restricted to a few boring and chauvinistic narratives for the pleasure of the male gaze. Porn isn’t something existentially male. Most women just have been excluded from determining the narrative."
Akira isn't the only one excited by the impending runway show.
"Before I got into erotic modeling, I’d looked into mainstream (and even some alternative-style), but my height and body type isn’t typical ‘runway’ material," said Jade Kush. "I really like their style and designs and am very excited to see what they have picked out for us to wear, and I’m thankful for this opportunity from Pornhub and Namilia for not just including me in not merely a mainstream fashion event, but New York Fashion Week!”
London-based creative director Betsy Johnson will be styling the Herotica show, and in anticipation of the event, Namilia has been posting images from its collection on Instagram, including photos of tights decorated with the words "FEMINISM FUCKS" and what looks like a half-jacket with "COCK WRECKERS" emblazoned on the sleeve.
As several commentators have pointed out, Pornhub has been increasing its mainstream presence over the past few years, having arranged for billboards in Times Square and is even now soliciting athletes and sports teams to put its logo on their uniforms.
"Yeah, Pornhub has been in an arts phase, a fashion phase for a few years, now," Akira noted, "so I think when they linked up with Namilia, it was a brand that really, really made sense, since they are so feminist, they are so sex-positive, they are so pro-porn; it totally makes sense."
Although the Fashion Week runway shows are invitation-only events, Pornhub has made arrangements to stream the show live on its website, so Pornhub subscribers will be able to see the full event by logging on at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT on Sunday, February 9.
UPDATE: V Magazine covered this event and had some positive things to say:
"Among the models were Pornhub stars Kush Queen Jade and Marica Hase, who sported future-focused biker wear. Pornhub ambassador and native New Yorker Asa Akira—the embodiment of HEROTICA, as a female, Asian, adult entertainment megastar—was a highlight on the runway, wearing a bold black biker bra top and matching chaps, with silk, floor-length kimono sleeves. Reaching the end of the catwalk, Akira raised her arms in a T to reveal the words splashed across her sleeves—'Cock Wrecker'—garnering a flood of flashes from the photo pit and hefty cheers from the crowd.
“'Namilia is feminist, sex-positive, and most of all, porn-positive,' Akira told V backstage. 'Which is not always the case in the mainstream! There’s still a huge stigma. I’ve been in the industry for 12 years now. And I always wanted to do porn, I didn’t fall into it accidentally. I’m a horny person! So what Namilia represents resonates with me, and their messaging completely aligns with Pornhub’s: a woman owning her sexuality, always a good thing. I’m really grateful for this opportunity!'
"She adds, 'Plus, being from New York and getting to walk in a Kelly Cutrone runway show… I mean, this is my Carrie Bradshaw moment! And if I fall, who cares!'”
UPDATE #2: Somewhat less complimentary was this screed published on UK's The Independent's website, authored by one Ellie Fry, who for some reason seems to be dressed in nun's headdress in her photo accompanying the article. Among Fry's complaints are:
"Although the idea of resisting pornographic tropes is compelling, the label’s hope to reclaim women’s agency fell flat when it chose to collaborate with a website that distributes footage made as a result of female exploitation. In yet another case of femvertising that claims to champion women while profiting from their mistreatment, the fashion venture is an insult to women who are trafficked, sexually abused and filmed in secret for Pornhub videos. Although the site encourages its users to report illegal content, as a hosting platform it takes no legal responsibility for the videos that are uploaded, making it a hotbed for illegal photos and videos...
"At surface level, a catwalk show full of porn actors may seem harmless; at a push, tasteless. But legitimising a site that refuses to protect the women it profits from only works to further entrench the fundamental pillar of patriarchy – power, and the abuse of it."
Pictured, l-r: Asa Akira, Marica Hase, Jade Kush
