If you’re not in the practice of scanning runways and ads for diversity, I highly suggest that you start now.
We know that diversity benefits everyone, not just the groups being represented. If you want some good reads on this, I recommend this 2014 article from The Washington Post and this 2017 article from Forbes.
From recent fashion weeks – such as Pierpaolo Piccioli’s magnificent Spring 2019 Couture collection for Valentino – we can see that at the very least, diversity is trending.
Just Trending?
The word “trending” makes me anxious. In fact, it makes a lot of people who care about the quality of the fashion industry antsy. Because diversity should not be a trend. It should be foundational, upon which we build corporate structure, manufacturing, and design. It should be fundamental to these fashion houses, and I say fashion houses in the broadest terms possible – from Old Navy to Chanel.
However, if this is simply a trend, we have an opportunity to push for diversity to calcify into the bones of the industry. Or, more simply put, we can grab onto this “trend” and demand that it become a permanent fixture.
As elitist (or more mildly, exclusive) as the industry can be, it is responding to consumer demand. If no one cared that the same bodies, shapes, ages, ethnicities, and gender identities walked the runway, this wouldn’t be a conversation worth having.
But people do care. And those who do should also be in the business of evangelizing the diversity gospel. While this gospel speaks to the soul, it also needs to be grounded in up-to-date facts so we know where we’re improving, and what areas need attention. This brings me to . . .
The Fashion Spot’s Diversity Report
If you’re like me and appreciate data, the Fashion Spot’s Diversity Report is right up your alley. Even if you aren’t a data person, I strongly suggest you take a look because we ALL need to be educated on this.
The Fashion Spot is an online fashion and culture publication that produces seasonal reports on diversity in ads and on runways. I originally heard about them through one of my all-time favorite podcasts, Pop Fashion, and don’t understand why either isn’t more popular.
Their diversity reports are an excellent tool to see which companies are investing in representation. For me, this information allows me to make more informed decisions on where to spend my money, which IG accounts to support, and who to highlight here on the blog.
Even though all of those choices are small-potatoes compared to the impact of mega influencers or couture clients, it matters. We each occupy our own little sphere of influence, right? We steer our conversations, our dollars, and our focus to what we want to grow.
The Fine Print
Diversity reports are SUPER important for keeping the industry on track. However, there are some limitations – the biggest being that diversity is not necessarily indicative of inclusion.
I plan on doing a separate post on diversity versus inclusion, but for now I’ll say that diversity is simply the addition of people from different backgrounds or points of view. Inclusion, on the other hand, is a culture that values and provides space for different backgrounds and perspectives.
Linked to the inclusivity limitation is that what we see in print or on the runways is not necessarily a reflection of who is at the table in the board room or on the design team. It is IMPERATIVE that for the long-term financial and creative health of a brand, more people of different backgrounds have a seat at the table. The articles from Forbes and The Washington Post I linked to earlier provide excellent data for this assertion.
Also, keep in mind that diversity comes in many forms, and the Fashion Spot does a great job of highlighting this. It not only covers diversity in race, ethnicity, and gender, but also of age and body type. There are less visually-presenting forms of diversity as well, such as economic background, education, etc. All are important in creating a culture of inclusivity.
Do you have any recommended reads on diversity in fashion or beyond? Let me know!
love,
Stig.
