The 'black special’ July 2008 issue of Italian Vogue has sold out on arrival in Britain and is nearly sold out here in Australia. The publisher Conde Nast has ordered a re-print of 40,000 additional copies to meet the worldwide demand for the magazine, which features the world's most glamorous black models.

For what is essentially a small circulation magazine, with average global monthly sales of 109,000 copies, the edition may well spell the end of the runway 'white-out' it was designed to fight.

Renowned fashion photographer Steven Meisel shot 18 new and established models of colour for the special issue, and editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani chose four covers. One features Jourdan Dunn, an 18 year old model from London. Naomi Campbell, Sessilee Lopez and Liya Kebede feature on the remaining three.

When the idea of an 'all black' edition was first suggested, it prompted much enthusiasm from the socially aware amongst fashion fans and media. Sola Oyebade, chief executive of Mahogany Model Management ran a Facebook campaign to encourage readers to make it the biggest selling edition ever.

But one truly wonders whether it will do much to change the reality of the industry. That reality is that despite this being 2008, a sort of runway apartheid still exists, with agencies and labels often asking not to see or cast black or dark-skinned models. A quick survey of the major runway shows and high-end advertising sadly confirms this 'white-out'.

With the next show season due to start in six weeks, the momentum from this hugely popular edition will hopefully carry through into more representational model selection.

If you're keen to get a copy magnation may still have them for $33 or head to ebay where copies are selling from US$45.