diversity and inclusion
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A Year After Its Blackface Scandal, Prada Agrees to Longterm Structural Changes
“When I spoke out about Prada’s blackface line one year ago, I feared that racism in fashion was a just bitter pill we collectively had to swallow,” said Chinyere Ezie, a civil rights attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights, on Wednesday. “Now I know that speaking truth to power can lead to meaningful change.”…
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Because Opportunity Shouldn’t Be a Luxury, Gucci Announces Its Inaugural Changemaker Grants
When it comes to diversifying the fashion industry, “change” is more than a buzzword; it’s a moral imperative if the historically exclusive arena is to evolve. Last year, Gucci, along with many other luxury brands, was forced to confront its own missteps in creating “diversity and inclusion,” both by hiring a dynamic new head of D&I…
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Arizona School District in a Fight Against Improved Diversity Training Because It's Arizona
It’s no secret that black students are punished at a far higher rate than their white counterparts. On top of that, it seems like every week we’re reporting on some racist assignment or event that occurs in an American school. A school district in Chandler, Arizona is trying to take steps to do better. Actually,…
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'I Won’t Do an All-Black Show': Naomi Campbell Talks Representation, Reputation, Racism and Why Meghan Markle Is Right to Defend Herself
“We just want balance, end of story,” says Naomi Campbell in a recent interview with the Guardian. Long one of the few black “supers” (as in supermodels), in recent years, Campbell, in partnership with fellow fashion legends Iman and Bethann Hardison, has become an advocate for diversity in the fashion industry. This followed decades of…
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Black Facebook Workers Write Open Letter to Company: We Are Treated Every Day 'As If We Do Not Belong Here'
One year after a black Facebook employee accused the social media giant of failing its black employees and users, a group of Facebook employees published an anonymous memo saying the culture at the company has only gotten worse for nonwhite workers. Published on Medium last week, the letter documents a variety of micro- and full-blown…
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'I Felt Pretty': For His 50th Birthday, Diddy Reflected on Life as Fashion's Bad Boy
As someone who’s spent her entire working life in the fashion and music industries (over two decades and ongoing), it remains challenging for me to think of Sean Combs as anything but “Puffy.” You see, as a Gen-Xer, I remember well his evolution from upstart promoter to music exec to entertainment juggernaut…while unfortunately, my mind…
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So, Let's Talk About That Time Elle Germany Reduced Black Models to a Fashion Trend…
With that headline and Elle Germany’s proclamation that we’re going “Back to Black” this season, you might be wondering why you’re looking at a cover featuring Danish model Gertrud Hegelund—likely a lovely person, but by no means a black one. Or perhaps you’re wondering why we’re making a fuss, since Elle must’ve been talking about…
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Fox Ordered a Pilot for a Show Called Diversity Hire and I’m Looking Forward to It Calling Out Some Bullshit
Calling all diversity and inclusion campaigners! There’s about to be a TV comedy specifically for you! According to Variety, Fox has ordered a put pilot from Cameron Johnson and Felicia D. Henderson titled Diversity Hire. The pair already have a relationship with Fox through the show Empire, where Johnson is a story editor and Henderson…
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Be the Change: Gucci Is Offering Up to $6.5 Million in Grants and Scholarships Via Its Changemakers Program
You can talk about it, or you can be about it. While Gucci may have made a major misstep or two this year, the label has also made major progress on their expressed desire to be leaders in diversifying the fashion industry. Aside from making some significant hires, they’re also hoping to equip a more…