(nydn special) The fashion shows in Bryant Park were a glorious explosion of color - unless you were looking at the models. A campaign to promote diversity on the runways during New York's Fashion Week appears to have failed miserably. In one of the globe's most multicultural cities, the talent in the tents last week was as white as a Vera Wang wedding gown. A survey by the Daily News revealed that out of 1,584 model slots, 94 went to black mannequins - a paltry 6%. Latinas accounted for only 17 slots, about 1%, and Asians for 95, or 6%. Out of 66 shows in the tents at Bryant Park or the adjacent space in the New York Public Library, 18 designers had no black models, and six of those put on all-white lineups. "I'm disappointed," supermodel Naomi Campbell told The News when she learned of the findings. "For this to be going on in 2008 is just shocking." Even more disturbing is that the racial divide persisted despite a high-profile crusade to get designers to diversify their model stables. Diane Von Furstenburg, president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, sent a letter to designers, agencies and casting directors last month, urging them to craft shows "that are truly multicultural." She might have expected the industry to at least pay lip service to the directive. Instead, the numbers suggest many designers gave it the kissoff.

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