{"id":2455,"date":"2020-07-24T09:08:40","date_gmt":"2020-07-24T09:08:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lambert.associates\/blog\/?p=2455"},"modified":"2020-07-24T13:43:30","modified_gmt":"2020-07-24T13:43:30","slug":"inclusion-and-diversity-committing-to-lasting-change-in-fashion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lambert.associates\/blog\/the-style-pulse\/inclusion-and-diversity-committing-to-lasting-change-in-fashion\/","title":{"rendered":"Inclusion and Diversity: Committing to Lasting Change in Fashion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Source: Yahoo.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The call for diversity and inclusion initiatives in fashion is nothing new, yet the year is 2020 and there is still enormous progress to be made. From large luxury powerhouses making racially insensitive mistakes to independent brands posting disingenuous Black Lives Matter posts on Instagram, Generations Y and Z are calling out these style-making entities and taking a stance against a system that has long been broken. <\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

PARIS, France \u2013 When the Covid-19 pandemic started making its mark across countries far and wide early this year, no one could have predicted the ensuing chain of events. In the fashion industry, people first started making change by questioning the legitimacy of an outdated fashion calendar, the environmental burden of an international value chain, and the lack of digital transformation within management, selling, and communication systems. Retailers and brands across the globe were forced to halt their business plans, undergo economic hardship, and reassess their core missions. Just when players in the industry started to feel comfortable with their direction again, a strong human rights movement caught fire in the United States and beyond, bringing the magnifying glass even closer to fashion\u2019s out-of-touch practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lack of opportunity,\nrepresentation, inclusion, and equality of Black individuals is an\ninstitutional problem that plagues fashion from design to distribution. Racism\nnot only exists in the American fashion scene, but all over the world. Although\nthis racism may not always be loud and in-your-face, it is easy to spot when\nlooking at the lack of diverse leaders, decision-makers, and influencers. For\nan industry that serves all types of races, cultures, and identities, fashion\nis too white. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Source: STYLECASTER<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

These\nunprecedented times have given the fashion industry a golden opportunity to\nchange itself from within to reflect a more inclusive, accurate reality. Making\nneeded changes will enrich both companies and individuals, all while making way\nfor innovation and excellence. The future faces and creations of fashion will\nbe greatly impacted by the decisions and commitments made today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generational Push<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Generations Y and Z already possess huge economic buying power, and Generation Z alone will represent 40% of global consumers this year. Made up of digital natives that put their money where their mouth is, McKinsey & Company<\/a> found that 90% of Gen Z consumers believe companies have a responsibility to address environmental and social issues. Even though younger generations are pushing the shift towards \u201cwoke\u201d consumerism, three-fourths of global consumers across all generations say they would stop buying brands based on their response to controversial issues. The people have spoken; companies cannot stay silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFashion is moving away from specifically flaunting your style to flaunting your values. It\u2019s almost like a whole new \u201csocial-good\u201d street cred.\u201d <\/p>Chloe Saintilan, Co-Founder of Merch Aid<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Since the murder of George Floyd and countless other racist acts have been brought to light, civil unrest in the US and across the globe have flooded social media feeds with declarations of solidarity. Fashion entities from Chanel to T.J.Maxx have posted messages and imagery to their social media accounts denouncing racism and announcing their companies\u2019 fight for diversity. Responses from industry insiders and consumers, alike, however, show that posting a black square and words of promise is simply not enough. Brands must practice what they preach, even if it means exposing their current problems to make way for advancement. Diversity and inclusion missions must be incorporated at all levels of a company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leadership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the top, studies<\/a> have found that companies with ethnically and culturally diverse\nexecutive teams are 43% more likely to realize higher profits. In fashion, board\ndiversity problems begin at the bottom of the chain: unpaid internships. With the\nadded history of insider networking practices, the playing field is far from\nlevel for people of colour. Black and other minority professionals must work harder\nto receive the same opportunities as their white counterparts in fashion. And\nwhen they do succeed, many report that they are tokenized, have to restrain\ntheir identity, and experience continued inequality and tone deafness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I\u2019ve experienced the fashion industry on both sides of the Atlantic. I\u2019ve had to create my own community. It\u2019s painfully obvious when you go to shows and events and see how few people of colour are in prominent spaces. So, while the industry here has made great progress on the runway with models, behind the scenes is still incredibly homogeneous. When at dinners, or while having idle chitchat before a show, it can feel quite isolating depending on the conversation, cultural reference points, and unconscious biases.\u201d <\/p>Kenya Hunt, Deputy Editor, Elle U.K<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In order to flip\nthe narrative, fashion institutions need to commit to long-term human capital\ninitiatives. Brands can no longer be applauded just for hiring Black models or\ncollaborating with diverse influencers; this should be the norm. The bar has\nbeen set extremely low, and the collective fashion industry must do better to\nraise this bar. Fashion has a duty to better reflect the people from which it\ndraws inspiration and for which it serves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CBHRflEhsGa\/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Through the Pull Up For Change<\/a> challenge, companies were asked to release the number\nof Black employees and Black executives within their organizations. This\ntransparency has exposed disproportionate levels of Black underrepresentation and\nleadership in companies from Revlon to Reformation. As companies own up to\ntheir inequality, the movement pushes brands to have at least 10% Black\ncorporate employment moving forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Support<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Aurora James,\nfounder and creative director of Brother Vellies recently challenged powerful\nretailers across the US to commit to allocating 15% of their shelf space to\nBlack-owned businesses with the #15PercentPledge<\/a>. As Black people represent about 15% of the American\npopulation, James argues this pledge is the least brands can do to support\ntheir consumer communities. Companies must reassess their buying budgets to\ninclude Black-owned brands at a higher percentage, which will lead to Black\nempowerment, greater opportunities, and products that reflect more than one\nrace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CCEcMbWDYS4\/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On top of dedicating portions of purchasing budgets to Black businesses, industry players can also fight for change through financial support. Organizations like the Elijah McClain Memorial Fund<\/a>, The Bail Project<\/a>, and the Third Wave Fund<\/a> are change makers that support various Black issues in society. Brands both large and small can provide monetary support to these organizations, even in the middle of an economic crisis. A few ways brands are currently doing their part is through donating profits, auctioning off exclusive items, and matching individual donations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And although\nsocial media solidarity and Black representation in media are not final solutions\nto the problem, they are a good starting point. Recognizing and admitting existing\nwhite privilege, organizational malpractice, and the need to do better brings\nvisibility to the movement. As insincere declarations can be spotted from a\nmile away, these words need to be followed by dedicated, significant actions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lasting change can\nonly be achieved through persistence and agendas. Our current reality is one\nthat is disproportionate, unequal, and under stress. If brands do not use their\nenormous power to make industries more inclusive today, then this reality will\nnot improve. Ultimately, consumers will not support companies that decline to\nbe a part of the movement or that do nothing to support actionless words. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSlowly but surely, the fashion industry is beginning to embrace diversity more than ever before. We can see diversity in magazines, on the runway and beyond. I\u2019m thankful that there\u2019s now an awareness and an effort to represent all races and types. We need to continue down this path. We must vow to practice inclusion. It\u2019s so important.”<\/p>Karly Loyce, model<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Let us listen to\nBlack voices, empower Black talent, and make room for Black excellence in the\nfashion industry. Let us admit to our mistakes and support a fashion culture\nthat is progressive and inclusive. Let us commit to making real change on every\nfront. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To discover a selection of some of our favorite Black-owned brands, check out the following: Kenneth Ize<\/a>, Heron Preston<\/a>, Lisou<\/a>, Poodle & Blonde<\/a>, Gilded<\/a>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n