What does diversity mean in fashion?
DIVERSITY IN FASHION
Diversity means 'the mix' of something; it is the difference within a group of people. That difference can be gender, sexuality, disability, body image... However, this study will only focus on the specifics of race within the fashion industry.
Without a variety of individuals of different backgrounds and walks of life being featured in fashion, we create a space that makes them feel un-welcomed. We market that only a select few men and women are meant to feel beautiful or be stylish.
According to the 2021 State of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Fashion survey by McKinsey & Company: 50% of employees of color report that a career in the fashion industry is not equally accessible to all qualified candidates, and almost one in four question the meritocracy of opportunities.
Definition of diversity
1 : the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : variety especially : the inclusion of people of different races (see race entry 1 sense 1a), cultures, etc. in a group or organization programs intended to promote diversity in schools.
Designers and manufacturers produce clothing and accessories in accordance with the culture of a particular region. It becomes the fashion of the region, then. People adopt a trend in clothing only if it is in accordance with the culture of that area.
After the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by police, the protests that ensued during the summer of 2020 cornered a number of industries into publicly declaring their support for the Black community. Fashion was no exception.
What is vertical diversification in the fashion business? In simpler words, it is adding different verticals to your existing fashion business. And it could be new products or new services. For example, if you are a fashion brand specialising in bridal wear, you can add more verticals as casual or kidswear.
The Importance of Diversity in the Beauty Community
On a societal level, it can affect cultural socialization. On a personal level, it is vitally important to self-image. Representation and diversity are vital to the beauty industry in disrupting Euro-centric and heteronormative beauty standards.
What is a Diversity Model? A diversity model is someone who represents the unrepresented whether that's on the runway, in advertising or on social media. That includes diverse people who don't conform to the usual “model” aesthetic of a skinny waist, perfectly-proportioned face and 5″7 (at a minimum) stature.
1) Diversity drives creativity and innovation
Every culture, every nationality, every single person sees the world in a different way. Similarly, every culture, nationality, and person has different knowledge, perspectives, and points of view. When all of these different views are shared together, miracles can happen.
Why is inclusion important in fashion?
They might not be able to find clothes that fit, or that look good on their body type and skin tone. By having more representation, people will feel more confident in themselves and comfortable shopping at your store. Everyone should be able to find clothes that make them feel confident, and that fit them well.
Using famous people to showcase the looks as their own, instead of appreciation it is appropriation. People from BAME backgrounds aren't being represented enough in the world of fashion but also in any means. People from BAME backgrounds suffering from mental health issues risk not being taken as seriously.
Be genuine when talking about your commitment to diversity. When asked a question about diversity, discuss your direct experiences with people of different cultures. Refrain from saying you don't see color. Instead, explain the value of honoring diverse cultures and learning from others.
- Cultural diversity. This type of diversity is related to each person's ethnicity and it's usually the set of norms we get from the society we were raised in or our family's values. ...
- Race diversity. ...
- Religious diversity. ...
- Age diversity. ...
- Sex / Gender / Sexual orientation. ...
- Disability.
We are trying to create diversity in the workplace. Our oceans are home to a rich diversity of species. It is the diversity of wildlife that many travel to Africa to see. There is a diversity of underwater habitats present there.
But how can clothes represent one's culture? Clothing habits tend to differ from place to place, as every culture has unique clothing styles attributed to it. Apparel can also reflect the beliefs, customs, values, morals, economics, art, and technology of individuals and groups of people.
Fashion becomes inextricably implicated in constructions and reconstructions of identity: how we represent the contradictions and ourselves in our everyday lives. Through appearance style (personal interpretations of, and resistances to, fashion), individuals announce who they are and who they hope to become.
Across the fashion industry, some companies — Target, Ulta and Neiman Marcus among them — have been actively “growing and expanding” their DEI commitments year on year, said Heather Ibberson, retail analyst at retail data platform Edited, in an email.
While incorporating inclusivity in a fashion brand can seem like a lot of effort, it is worth it. Customers are increasingly flocking toward brands that value diversity and inclusion. Building an inclusive brand can improve your reputation as a socially responsible company that puts in effort for its customers.
Diversity and inclusion are two interconnected concepts—but they are far from interchangeable. Diversity is about representation or the make-up of an entity. Inclusion is about how well the contributions, presence and perspectives of different groups of people are valued and integrated into an environment.
How do you diversify a product?
- Repackaging. The manner in which a product is presented can be altered to make it available to a different audience. ...
- Renaming. ...
- Resizing. ...
- Repricing. ...
- Brand Extensions. ...
- Product Extensions.
Answer and Explanation: 1) Which of the following is an example of diversification : The correct answer is e) Market expansion. To diversify, a company will expand to a new market.
Concentric diversification refers to the development of new products and services that are similar to the ones you already sell. For example, an orange juice brand releases a new “smooth” orange juice drink alongside it's hero product, the orange juice “with bits”.
If we just focus on our bodies we are blessed with different organs and these different organs have different functions. Diversity in bodily organs not only adds beauty to our physical being but also adds to the functionality of the body.
Diversity Drives Inspiration & Encourages Support
63% of Americans say they are inspired by beauty brands that show diversity in advertising. Consumers want to see diversity in beauty ads because it “reflects real life” (68%) and because it “shows that there are different ways to be beautiful" (56%).
Diversity opens up fresh, unexplored avenues of thought and avoids myopic views, which is critical when brainstorming. People with different experiences have opposing views, and it's their experiences that inform the way they see the world, and their creativity.
There are generally four different types of diversity: internal, external, organizational, and worldview—and you should aim to understand and represent them all. Keep reading to learn more about each one and how diversity affects the workplace.
The dimensions of diversity include age, race, skills, backgrounds, sexual orientations, and other differences that make one unique.
- Recognize your strengths. ...
- Understand the duties of the job. ...
- Take care of your appearance. ...
- Get headshots. ...
- Create a portfolio. ...
- Find a modeling agency that fits your brand. ...
- Try a modeling school. ...
- Look for open casting calls.
It is important to value diversity because: people build a stronger sense of identity and wellbeing, and have better education and career outcomes when their diverse strengths, abilities, interests and perspectives are understood and supported.
How does diversity make us stronger?
Diversity promotes critical thinking
In addition, Scientific American found that exposure to diversity changes the way people think and ultimately improves innovation, creativity, and problem-solving skills, which makes us smarter. In addition, Antonio et al.
a. Read books and articles educating yourself on other cultures, races, religions, genders, etc. to educate yourself on those who are unlike yourself. b. Watch movies and shows that depict lives and experiences that are different from yours.
What can fashion do to be more inclusive? People want to be seen, heard, and most of all, represented. An authentic understanding of what representation truly means, and how it relates to the struggle for inclusion and diversity, is most likely what fashion can do to be more inclusive.
Inclusion (noun)
Inclusive fashion is when a garment is designed to be useful to everybody, including the disabled community. The great challenge for the future is genuine inclusion. Long gone are the fashion shows and magazine editorials with plus-size or racialised models who were used to tick the diversity box.
For a brand to be inclusive it means they would cater to the needs of customers that are a size 24 or greater. While at the same time, not forgetting customers who fall into the categories of petite, junior, and small.
In a talk at Digital Fashion Week Europe last July, writer, curator and activist Janice Deul described the phenomenon as using symbols from other cultures purely for aesthetic reasons without considering the meaning of the items. Often this also involves using elements of marginalized cultures.
The fashion industry encompass many different smaller and more niche industries. Often people think of it as just retail/online stores, design houses and brands, and fashion magazines. However, there are other craftspeople and industries in the manufacturing of clothes.
Runway Model Statistics By Race
The most common ethnicity among runway models is White, which makes up 65.4% of all runway models. Comparatively, there are 14.5% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 10.6% of the Black or African American ethnicity.
Inclusion (noun)
Inclusive fashion is when a garment is designed to be useful to everybody, including the disabled community. The great challenge for the future is genuine inclusion. Long gone are the fashion shows and magazine editorials with plus-size or racialised models who were used to tick the diversity box.
They might not be able to find clothes that fit, or that look good on their body type and skin tone. By having more representation, people will feel more confident in themselves and comfortable shopping at your store. Everyone should be able to find clothes that make them feel confident, and that fit them well.
What is cultural appropriation in fashion?
In a talk at Digital Fashion Week Europe last July, writer, curator and activist Janice Deul described the phenomenon as using symbols from other cultures purely for aesthetic reasons without considering the meaning of the items. Often this also involves using elements of marginalized cultures.
The model call approach
Being respectful and using appropriate wording is paramount to ensure you are not offensive while searching for the perfect client for your vision. Instead of requesting a “beautiful black female”, make a call out for Diverse Body Types, or Diverse Ethnicities instead.
