Our Contributing Editor, Arianne (Ari) Obi , makes her debut on NIGHTSTAND SERVICE with a timely and crucial article shedding light on the recurring issue of racist blunders within the fashion industry, particularly prevalent during fashion week.
One glaring example is the recent misstep by Egon Lab, whose 'invisible t-shirts' debacle featuring both black and white models ignited rightful outrage, emphasising the urgent need for thoughtful representation and messaging in our industry.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. History is littered with instances where fashion brands have stumbled, often egregiously, on matters of race, ethnicity, and cultural appropriation. From Dolce and Gabbana's troubled past to H&M's regrettable misstep and Marni's recent controversy, the need for introspection and accountability within the industry has never been more apparent.
So WHAT CAN BRANDS LEARN FROM THIS?
👽 Diversity need not be just on the runway or in campaigns, but in senior leadership. We know that fashion has a plague of white, male, directors, and this lack of diversity is reflected in senior leadership across the board. We need a myriad of perspectives in the boardroom to avoid errors like these, people’s whose voice and decision-making matters and can trickle down into entire organisations.
👽 Brands should test their campaigns on different types of audiences to ensure that their messaging is being clearly understood and is culturally aware. If necessary, they should adapt these for different platforms and local markets.
👽 Brands need to be accountable, proactive and self-aware, sometimes overly cautious to not make mistakes. This can have an impact on their reputation and revenue, especially if key audiences lie in emerging markets.
👽 Brands need to consider their audience. With Gen Z becoming the largest consumers and luxury whilst also prioritising liberal values, brands need to take a hard look at their choices to build trust and loyalty in their audience.
Read here: https://lnkd.in/ePjfwbw2
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