Michael Farhi’s Post

𝘼 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩, 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙖 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧. 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙, 𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 "𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙧" 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙖 𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙥𝙩, 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙨. This exact scenario is used for a training video made for retail employees as part of a new antibias push by dozens of retailers across the country. This is a stark reminder that systemic bias continues to impact individuals' experiences based on race. As advocates for justice and equality, we applaud the efforts of retailers taking steps to address this issue. Read more about this important initiative in the article linked below. https://lnkd.in/gAQnaPnu . . . #Antibias #Inclusion #Equality #RacialProfiling

As professionals in fashion sectors, how can we work to create more inclusive and equitable experiences for customers? We ask this question due to a recent lawsuit filed against luxury brand Louis Vuitton alleging racial discrimination, accusing the company of blacklisting and denying services to customers based on race. The case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, involves plaintiffs who claim they were falsely labeled as "drug dealers" and banned from stores where they had previously been regular customers. This lawsuit highlights the ongoing issue of racial discrimination in retail settings, often referred to as "Shopping While Black." It raises important questions about equity, inclusivity, and ethical practices in the luxury retail sector. For more insights on racial stigma and discrimination in retail environments, we recommend Cassi Pittman's article "'Shopping while Black': Black Consumers' <anagement of Racial Stigma and Racial Profiling in Retail Settings." This research provides valuable context for understanding the broader implications of such incidents in the fashion industry. 🖼️Throughout the month of October, our theme is “Race and Image-making” Visit fashionandrace.org and consider becoming a member to support our mission to educate and transform the fashion system. #louisvuitton #luxuryfashion #racialdiscrimination #retail

Target announced a limited Pride Month collection after receiving backlash from conservatives last year. What can brands learn from this? 1. If you want to support the LGBTQ+ community, stand firm and unafraid. A bottom line should not define your allyship. 2. Expect resistance and prepare accordingly. Educate your employees on why your brand supports the LGBTQ+ community and ensure safety measures are in practice. 3. You cannot be an ally with an expiration date. #prad564

What does "Reclaiming Narratives" mean to you? #BlackHistoryMonth #LinkedInNewsUK As we celebrate Black history month, I couldn't help but think about the fashion industries commitment to diversity. It's hard not to question whether the fashion industries dedication to diversity has faded, especially during tough economic times. Brands like Asos have cut their DEI budgets, and diversity initiatives have been among the first to be scaled back. Despite earlier pledges to improve representation, only 9% of leadership positions within the fashion sector are held by non-white individuals. Reclaiming these narratives requires shifting focus from performative actions to systemic change. It is crucial to elevate black voices in leadership roles, ensuring authentic representation that goes beyond marketing campaigns. https://lnkd.in/emFrffE9 #BlackHistoryMonth #ReclaimingNarratives #DiversityInFashion #DEI

Step by step the right direction!!

Fashion is fleeting; exploiting is forever. Tommy Hilfiger is an American fashion designer and founder of a publicly trade clothing brand company. The data shows 76.3% of Tommy Hilfiger $4.7B company value comes from exploiting Black creativity, likeness and influence for commercial use, since 1990. [Source: Kellogg Brand Value Report 2023] It’s not OK to exploit Black Creators without investing in Black communities proportionate to your gross extraction level. We call forward Tommy Hilfiger executive leadership Martijn Hagman CEO and Virginia Ritchie CMO to change the way you participate with Black Culture. See Ethical Trade guide https://lnkd.in/ecAsMDcz #StoptheSteal #CultureMakesProfits   #EthicalTradeMatters  #GetBlackStamp Note: CALL FORWARD is an invitation to fix unacceptable behavior causing harm with a sustainable solution benefiting people, planet & profits.

Black women face unique challenges when growing and scaling a brand, often stemming from systemic inequalities and social barriers. This 3-part series on The Business of Fashion by Sheena Butler-Young dives into the challenges black women face launching, scaling and raising funds for our black beauty brands. Thanks for bringing light to this key challenge for black entrepreneurs, beauty or otherwise! "[F]unding for Black female founders remains less than one percent of total start-up investment each year" "In many beauty categories, Black founders don’t always need to carve out entirely new niches. Emerging brands can thrive by improving or broadening existing offerings. This holds especially true for Black brands, given that their core consumers are chronically underserved, especially in hair care and makeup."

The recent blackface incident at Sephora is another example of why DEI and cultural sensitivity are essential. While the company responded appropriately in addressing the conduct and conveying zero tolerance for racism, the fact that multiple staff even considered blackface acceptable for a store event in 2024 indicates significant gaps persist in critical consciousness around issues of race, power, and oppression. All Sephora employees should understand the racist history and deeply dehumanizing impact of blackface without needing an incident to spur that awareness. Though imperfect, this may be a teachable moment for Sephora and other major brands to invest more proactively in substantive diversity training while centering input from their staff of color. Doing better means putting in the hard, consistent work before and after harm occurs. #Sephora #DEIB #CulturalSensitivity

Explore the concept of Supplier Diversity with insights from Le'Spencer Walker, Director of Merchandising Vendor Development at Target. Learn about the importance of supplier diversity, the core challenges faced by diverse-owned businesses, and how Target is working to overcome these barriers to create a more inclusive marketplace. #SupplierDiversity #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #retail Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ekCsgFMN

✨ Black women are pushing more than ever for ownership in the black haircare space. Here’s how: 💡 This year Beyoncé and Rihanna released Cécred and Fenty Hair, which already have raving reviews. 💡 Pattern Beauty by Tracee Ellis Ross have been expanding across multiple retailers such as Sephora US and Boots UK with their game-changing products for textured hair. 💡 Non-celeb brands such as Ruka Hair and The Frontal Queen are building cult followings with innovation and a deeper understanding of their target audiences. 💡 The recent boycotting of beauty brands such as Ebin and Youthforia highlights black women’s frustration and growing intolerance of faux representation. Watch full video for our analysis! #beautymarketing #Digiveree #genz #beautyindustry #fentyhair #patternbeauty #cecred