The British Fashion Council (BFC) today announces its Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee, an essential part of its long-term plan to fight prejudice and galvanise the industry into action. The Committee is made up of industry and BFC representatives and its role will be to address key challenges facing minority communities in gaining fair representation within the fashion industry.
The Committee’s priorities will include stamping out racism and addressing the specific challenges each minority community faces within the fashion industry. The Committee will work as part of the Institute of Positive Fashion (IPF) to set the bar for accountability and best practice for all fashion businesses, and alongside the wider BFC team to address existing programmes.
Today, the Committee issues its Mission Statement ahead of London Fashion Week September2020:
“The Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee aspires for the fashion industry to be open for all and reflect the diverse, global communities it inspires and serves.
The Committee aims to reach this ambition by bringing together leaders in business, culture and education to create a framework which will build better, broader engagement and access for all under-represented groups; creating more opportunities and driving greater diversity throughout the industry.
Its ambition is to create true equity, increase diversity and inclusion and provide a platform to role models who will inspire future generations.
In year one, the Diversity & Inclusion Steering Group commits to:
- Create a D&I framework fashion businesses of all sizes can implement to reach global leading standards: The BFC will support businesses through providing practical advice and toolkits to ensure organisations can create change and measure their successes.
- Ensure development programmes are fair and equitable for all: The BFC will review all its current programmes, from scholarships to Fashion Weeks. In addition, the Council will look at Talent ID programmes and networks to ensure that diverse perspectives and voices are heard during selection processes.
- Create inclusive cultures: The need for inclusive representationhas never been higher. The BFC will challenge and address racism, prejudice and biases and will promote allyship by providing toolkits that will support both businesses and individuals. The BFC will also address barriers to entry and career progression for underrepresented groups and, specifically, support the development of resources to recognise the influence of black culture on the fashion industry.”
From June 2020, the BFC has taken a series of actions to fight prejudice that includes:
- The appointment of three new Non-Executive Directors to its Executive Board: Jamie Gill, Chief Executive Roksanda; June Sarpong OBE, Director of Creative Diversity BBC; Scott Morrison, Founder The Boom!
- The diversity monitoring of initiatives and business support programmes
- Hosting fortnightly calls with the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic fashion community while developing its Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee. The calls allowed participants to address challenges and start working on solutions and next steps for the industry. More than 200 industry professionals were invited to join the calls.
- The creation of a Diversity & Inclusion Internal Working Group whose role is to make sure it moves the D&I agenda forward internally with a yearlong strategy.