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Part 2  → All Identities: Characteristics that make you, you. brandx is sharing our design perspectives around inclusive signage which is more than just a means for wayfinding, it’s about creating a positive and easy-to-navigate environment for all: all ages, all identities, all cultures, and all abilities (both physical and neurological).  In this second part, we’ll look at all identities. Identities include gender, sexuality, race, and personality, it’s the distinguishing characteristics that make you, you.  There’s still work to be done, but in Gallup’s 2024 statistic about sexuality, we are seeing improvements in people feeling more safe and included in the workforce, as well as in our modern society. In just over a decade, there’s been a rise in the number of Americans who have shared their LGBTQ+ identity, and brandx hopes that through our design, we can help more than double this in the next decade. We don’t want people to feel self-conscious in the spaces we design. You know that feeling when you’ve showed up to an event or restaurant underdressed or overdressed and think “I don’t know if I should be here?” We don’t want this to cross anyone's mind when they’re experiencing our environments. In one of our LGBTQIA+ focus groups, we discussed the naming conventions for inclusive restrooms, one participant made a great point by asking, if you were driving a car and looking for parking, and the parking structure said "gender neutral parking," it might throw you off right?  You’d wonder can I park here? If everyone is allowed to park in this structure, just labeling it "parking" would be more universal and less confusing overall. This sparked a clear consensus that we should simply call “inclusive” restrooms that everyone is permitted to use, "Restroom" or "Toilet." Including people of different identities and expressions goes beyond segregating them or giving them a separate option based on their race (which was officially outlawed in America only 60 years ago by the Civil Rights Act of 1964), sexuality, gender, or even personality type. It’s ultimately about designing that one space or that singular experience that we can all be a part of. #signagedesign #signagesolutions #wayfindingdesign #brandexpert #inclusivity #universal #accessible #accessibility Chanel Dehond Carolina Madrigal Jackie Capone Tyler Lowe HLW

The fantasy of #fashion lures many marginalised people with the promise of #belonging. But the idea that fashion is more #diverse and #inclusive is misleading – barriers to inclusion have just become more sophisticated and covert. Many people from #marginalised groups now feel disillusioned with an industry that promised to change but didn’t and are seeking opportunities elsewhere. Read the second part of ‘Debunking the dream’, a four-part series based on the exclusive Vogue Business ‘Success in Fashion’ survey of 667 industry professionals which sought to answer two questions: what does it take to reach a certain level of #success in fashion, and what does it take to stay happy at that level? A person’s various #intersectional identities impact the way they are perceived, how likely they are to succeed, what is expected of them in work and in success, and how tenuous that success feels to them. Bella Webb and I outline the ways that #race, #gender, #culturalcapital, financial #privilege, #disability, #neurodivergence and pretty privilege impact a person’s career in fashion. The solutions lie in creating community and systems where people from marginalised groups feel comfortable showing up as their authentic selves at work without fear of #discrimination. You can also check out part one which summarises the findings, part three that looks at the lifestyle demands of a successful fashion career, and part four about fashion’s burnout culture All four articles are available to read for FREE on the Vogue Business website! We felt it was important that this particular series was made open access, but please consider a Vogue Business membership if you can afford it and would like to support more work like this.

I can’t thank Vogue Business enough for putting this on and Bella Webb, Maliha Shoaib and Olivia Lower for leading these #progressive discussions. From #identities, #barriers to entry, marginalized groups, #intersectionality, the impact of public profiles on people’s mental health combined with #lifestyle, and efforts to decentralize fashion in four major cities, I learned so much from this 4 part series.

Pride capsule collections and activities were a hot topic in my last role, but this year there's been a notable shift in how brands approach Pride Month as reported by Yola Mzizi at The Business of Fashion. Major companies like Nike have scaled back, opting for quieter support through corporate giving and employee programming. This change reflects a cautious response in the corporate world, perhaps due in part to last year's backlash against pro-LGBTQ+ initiatives, such as the boycott of Bud Light. However, this doesn't mean the end of meaningful support. Brands like UGG, Aesop, Kitty and Vibe, and Appledoll Cosmetics are highlighted for integrating LGBTQ+ inclusivity into their year-round strategies. Understanding that authentic, consistent support is more impactful than seasonal campaigns, fashion brands need to truly connect with the community they need to move beyond performative activities. Focusing on genuine, continuous engagement that reflects a commitment to inclusivity. As Rob Smith states in the article, “Pride this year is one of reflection and reinvention,” so that brands can show up more authentically for the community. Check out the article for more on how these brands are doing Pride Month differently this year: https://lnkd.in/ewxgaQHZ #PrideMonth #LGBTQ

While Pride Month is still some time away, Welspun World is excited to hold a panel discussion on Celebrating Rainbow experiences in the workplace.   While it is easy to do things for tokenism, it is essential that we have conversations around inclusion throughout the year. Each employee irrespective of their caste, class, gender, sexuality or race has the right to a safe workplace. Meaningful discussions followed by active workplace practices go a long way in creating these safe places.   Many times our unconscious biases seep into our work lives leading to discriminatory hiring practices and workplace harassment as well. Diversity and inclusion are no longer just keywords but go a long way in building a healthy and robust workplace that is beneficial to all.    #diversityandinclusion

This is an interesting read from The Business of Fashion musing on the global fashion climate re Pride Month 2024. I had similar questions this Pride month (in my small corner as a mere ally). A lot of brands - locally and internationally - have opted out of Pride this year as they cower in the face of online backlash, both past and preemptive. Has the fact that the online mindset shift has seemingly become more conservative - and to an extent, brazenly bigoted - forced brands into silent allyship or were they always grandstanding to begin with? Hard to tell? Or unfair to only assume the latter? In this BoF article, CEO of The Phluid Project, Rob Smith, provides what I think is the closest answer to this conundrum of inclusion by observing that “the brands that will be successful in courting [the LGBTQ community] are doing marketing initiatives throughout the year, even for events with less media attention such as Trans Day of Visibility, which falls in March.” “Pride this year is one of reflection and reinvention,” said Smith. “Brands need to recalibrate and figure out how to show up more authentically for the queer community.” #fashionmarketing #DiversityEquityInclusion #PrideMonth

For Pride month, I'm going to talk a lot about what real diversity and inclusion look like. Buckle up sunshine; this is a no-holds-barred queer friendly page. Let's start off with shopping. My non-binary child just hates shopping for apparel. They generally shop in the men's department, but they get some really weird reactions if they try on clothes in the men's dressing room. They can trek all the way to the other side of the store to use the women's dressing room, which isn't any more comfortable for them and has the additional problem of leaving any rejected garments on the wrong side of the store for the staff to recover. Design stores with gender neutral dressing rooms. Most people prefer the improved privacy of these anyway. #Pride #Diversity #RetailDesign

Pride Month campaigns have historically allowed brands to connect with #LGBTQ+ customers and demonstrate progressive values. However, recent pushback, especially on trans rights, has led to boycotts and negative viral content, making some brands more cautious. Rob Smith, CEO of The Phluid Project, notes that even brands participating in Pride are making their merchandise less visible. Despite these challenges, many brands continue to support the LGBTQ+ community authentically. UGG and Aesop, for instance, are launching inclusive initiatives and promoting LGBTQ+ authors. As Rob Smith suggests, successful brands engage with the community year-round, not just during Pride. A recent article by The Business of Fashion highlights the importance of consistent and authentic support for the LGBTQ+ community beyond just visible campaigns. It's crucial for brands to reflect and reinvent their strategies to genuinely connect and show up for the queer community, not just during Pride Month. Read the article in it's entirety here: https://lnkd.in/eZaHdUFw #PrideMonth #LGBTQ #Inclusion #Diversity #BusinessStrategy #LGBTQSupport #Marketing #CorporateResponsibility

🏳️🌈 Like clockwork, consumers will find many US-based brands and retailers shifting their logos or in-store imagery to feature rainbow-inspired designs in June. 🌈 Consumers will also find various examples of retailers or brands launching limited-edition Pride collections, from rainbow-colored apparel to children’s books featuring an inclusive array of familial set-ups, online and in-store. 🤔 However, this year, there has been a notable drawback in retailers and brands showing awareness, via avenues like social media platforms or websites, of Pride Month or towards the LGBTQIA+ community in general. 🗣 Inside Retail US Retail spoke with brand founders Finnegan Shepard of the apparel brand Both& Apparel and Kim Chi of KimChi Chic Beauty to gather their thoughts on the state of the retail industry’s support, or lack thereof, for the LGBTQIA+ community and their opinion on what can be done to show authentic support for the LGBTQIA+ community effectively. 🖱 Click on the link below to find out more! #insideretail #retailnews #retail #lgbtqia #pridemonth #consumer #customer #allyship #marketing #editorial #linkedin #webcontent

I read PRWeek's recent article about how some brands are reducing their external Pride campaigns this year amid economic pressures and fears of backlash. As a PR recruiter, I found the piece thought-provoking on comms professionals' challenges in balancing authenticity, principles, and prudent business sense. A few takeaways: Authenticity Matters 💯 The article highlights concerns that some past Pride activations may have been more about hopping on a trend vs. truly living organizational values of LGBTQ+ inclusion. Savvy audiences can sniff out inauthenticity from a mile away. Consistency and walking the talk is key for brands. Ethics > Apprehension 💪 While I understand the trepidation some companies feel after seeing the backlash Target and others faced, pulling back LGBTQ+ support solely due to fear sets a concerning precedent. The PR profession must have the courage of its convictions. Don't Confuse Prudence with Prejudice 🕵️ At the same time, scaling back certain external Pride promotions prudently doesn't necessarily equate to prejudice if those budgets are being meaningfully reinvested in LGBTQ+ initiatives that genuinely benefit employees and communities. It's about impact over optics. Ultimately, this presents a defining moment for the PR industry to truly live its values and ethically advise organizations to do what's right - not just what's expedient. 🌈 We can celebrate LGBTQ+ identities with authenticity, backbone and nuance. That's what will ensure our profession's Pride endures. #PRWeek #TWsearchpartners