They might as well have called them n***** earrings Iman on Vogue Italia's racial slur, high heels and her new accessories line
She hasn't modelled professionally since 1989, claims not have worn high heels in as many years and is a self-confessed accessories girl.
In a candid interview, Iman reveals the drive behind her unlikely union with Home Shopping Network - and speaks about that slave earrings gaffe.
'They might as well have called them n***** earrings' says the supermodel turned humanitarian campaigner.
Accessories girl: Iman has deplored Vogue Italia's racist slur but continues to work in the fashion industry as designer of accessories for HSN
Speaking about the storm of controversy caused by a Vogue Italia story last week in which on-trend hoop earrings are called 'slave' earrings, the 56-year-old is unambiguous.
She told Fashionista: 'Is it controversial? Yes. The naming of it, I dont get it. I sometimes wonder in this age of reality shows has it become part of the language - the more controversy the more [buzz] it creates.'
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The Vogue story read: 'If the name brings to the mind the decorative traditions of the women of colour who were brought to the southern United States during the slave trade, the latest interpretationis pure freedom.'
Sparking an international race row, the glossy magazine has now released an apology, blaming a translation issue for the poor choice of word.
'But yeah, I didnt like it. Slave does not make it ethnic. Mind you, its not lost in translation - the word slave, we know what it is,' commented Iman.
Racist? Vogue Italia has come under fire for featuring the controversial article focusing on what it calls the trend for 'slave earrings'
She said to the site that although she is a 'huge fan of Franca Sozzani' and the Vogue Italia website because of their support of black models, 'somebody like Franca Sozzani, who did that whole black issue for Vogue, somebody should have said something.'
Less contentious, though, is her new range for Home Shopping Network.
At a higher price point than her original - and second best-selling fashion line ever for the network - Iman's Platinum Collection retains an accessories focus but is aiming for a different, wealthier, clientele.
'I was very worried with the economy how it is. A customer for three year who has been shopping at a price point of under $100 and then all of a sudden its higher? But this is about pulling in a new customer. People will look at these pieces and say, Thats HSN? Its still mass and its still affordable.'
Pretty chic: The 55-year-old ex-supermodel models her own collection - and looks as stunning as ever
Still, with such a successful line behind her, HSN seems more than confident in credentials - and her eye for design.
'When i came to HSN three years ago I only wanted to do accessories because thats my love. I picked up my baby blue Hermes bag today and thats how I put this outfit together. Im an accessories girl.
'So when I came in I created bags and accessories, it became a huge success, and then Mindy asked me to create some fashion things and I told her, "Im not a fashion designer." Ive been around fashion designers and its not an easy thing.
'So I created a couple of things and before I knew it the line was the second best seller in fashion on HSN in three years.
Yves Saint Laurent famously once said 'my dream woman is Iman' - but the wife of David Bowie is adamant that her days of modelling are firmly behind her.
'Ive said it but no one ever believes me. I stopped modeling in 1989 and Ive never been to a fashion show since then,' she said.
'I was at the tents at Lincoln Center as an interior decoratorI did the Mercedes loungeand when they saw me everyone was like, "Come to a show!" But Im done.'
She said that her work with 'literally every designer' means that she could never go back into the industry and work with 'one and not do the other.'
She said: 'I know my industry very well, they will say, "Oh poor her, she wants to come back." Come on, I know fashion people. The reason I lasted this long is because Im not around them all the time!'
And, despite taking on many a fashion runway in sky-high heels, the fashion pro is decidedly anti-heels. She said she worried before the Platinum Collection launch:
'Ill be on my feet in heels for two hours and I havent done that since I was a model. Were talking about 1989. I dont stand in high heels for two hours. Who does that?
Not that the 5 feet, 10 inches Somalian beauty needs a boost in! the hei ght department, of course.
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