Chante Harris, the co-founder of WOC/CS, is a New York-based champion of social innovation and scaling sustainability companies through successful growth strategies. She is an expert in driving long-term growth for startups and established companies by leading them through the complex processes of winning procurement opportunities, securing pilot projects, undertaking design challenges, and launching community impact initiatives.
Khadija is a human rights activist and is one of those people you cannot help but feel completely inspired and empowered by. Khadija is also an entrepreneur, speaker, facilitator, philanthropist and mentor, as the Director of Khadija Gbla Cultural Consultancy & non-for-profit Desert Flower Centre Australia which supports FGM Survivors and ambassador for Our Watch and SisterWorks.
Isabella Silvers is an associate editor at Hearst Studio, co-chair of the company's BAME network and part of Hearst Diversity and Inclusion steering group. She has also recently launched ‘Mixed Messages’ a weekly newsletter all about the mixed-race experience. We first met Isabella last year and is a true trailblazer and innovator in her field, who makes us so hopeful and inspired about the future of the industry.
Jacqueline De Rojas CBE is an absolute powerhouse and a true example of a lifelong inclusive leader. She is the President of TechUK, co-chair the Institute of Coding and sits on a number of Plc boards. She is also a tech ambassador for the Girl Guiding Association and on the advisory board for The Youth Project and the Accelerate-Her Group.
Val is an Entrepreneur, Mother and Earth Activist. Val is a true embodiment of what a role model is. She's created the most incredible community and army of role models all over the world who are creating positive change as the co-founder of @rolemodelsmgmt with Anne-Therese.
Our next viewpoint is with the amazing Leanne Maskell. Leanne is the true definition of an activist- she is a model and author of The Model Manifesto, she does whatever she can to use her experiences, talents and voice to help others. Follow Leanne and her work here.
We are so excited to announce our first viewpoint with the incredible Frederica Brooksworth. Frederica is a Lecturer in Fashion Management at London College of Fashion, she is also a researcher in EdTech and Fashion Marketing and a Development Consultant.
Applications are now open for the LVMH Prize 2022. The prize was “launched in 2013 … and embodies the commitment of the Group and its Houses towards today’s young designers who will be tomorrow’s rising stars”. This is a great opportunity to increase representation in the luxury fashion space for underrepresented designs.
Kenya Hunt is the newly appointed editor in chief of Elle UK. Kenya will begin in March 2022 in her new role.
Vogue Italia have released their ‘Inclusion Revolution’ campaign which is “a series of images about inclusion, embracing diversity in front and behind the camera”.
This made me think how can we champion gender equality and women empowerment, yet within fashion, given that over 45% of women are size 16 and above, why do most brands only offer 8–16? That means nearly 45% of women are being excluded. Why is more not being done to address this equality? If you are a woman who is a size 18 why should you not have access to the same styles and choice of fashion as a size 14 or a size 10? There is nothing equal about this.
Gucci X CFDA have launched the Scholars by Design Award for 2020-2021 to ‘unite in supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion within fashion through the Gucci Changemakers x CFDA Scholars by Design Award. By establishing a scholarship fund specifically for diverse students in 2019, Gucci North America and the CFDA demonstrate a shared commitment to education and inclusive futures.’
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris has been announced as Vogue’s February 2021 Cover Star. Kamala Harris made history in 2020 as the first person of colour and the first woman to be voted as Vice President of the United States.
The incredible Dame Pat McGrath has become the first ever make-up artist to receive a Damehood from Queen Elizabeth II. Dame Pat McGrath has been recognised for her Services to the Fashion and Beauty Industry and Diversity.
Smart Works have announced the launch of their Diversity Internship Scheme. This is a ten-week paid internship starting in January at their London HQ with the aim to ‘offer people from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to see what a career in the charity sector is like’.
Vanessa Kingori MBE and Stephanie Phair have launched Share The Mic UK, inspired from the US initiative Share The Mic Now with the mission ‘to magnify Black women & their work to accelerate global change”.
The incredible Isabella Silvers, Editor at Hearst UK has launched ‘Mixed Messages’ a weekly newsletter all about the mixed-race experience. Every week Izzy interviews a ‘mixed-race voice, from actors to journalists, athletes to politicians, and everything in between— discussing the good, the bad, the amazing and the confusing about living life with mixed heritages’.
Rosanna Falconer and Rachel Arthur, the co-founders of FashMash with consultant and founder of Fashion Scholar Frederica Brooksworth have launched their incredible Young Pioneers programme- a mentoring programme designed to support and nurture the next generation of industry talent who are driving change.
#PassTheMic founded by Reggie Yates have teamed up with UN Women UK to create their latest brief “How do you think the UK could create safer, more inclusive public spaces and structures for women, girls and minoritised groups?” focussed on creating a more inclusive world for everyone.
Knowledge Transfer Network’s #IdeasMeansBusiness campaign have launched their Young Innovators programme, in partnership with a Innovate UK and the Prince’s Trust.
The UK Government Women & Equalities Committee launched its new enquiry into body image in April 2020. The enquiry named ‘Changing the perfect picture’ was launched in response to increased awareness of ‘the impact of advertising and media consumption on people’s body image’.
British Vogue continues to lead and take action on what inclusive fashion media should look like. The September 2020 cover features ‘20 remarkable activists who are ready to change the world’.
‘Black people in the U.S. make up nearly 15% of the population’— 15 Percent Pledge was founded in June 2020 to ‘call on major retailers to commit a minimum of 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned business’ with the aim to help build generational wealth in Black communities.
Frederica Brooksworth, fashion academic and founder of Fashion Scholar launched her amazing ‘Black Fashion Futures’ initiative in June 2020. A completely free 6 week programme, which was dedicated to supporting black students, professionals and entrepreneurs.
Ellie Goldstein from Ilford, Essex features in an editorial for Gucci Beauty x Vogue Italia focussed on the ideas of authenticity. The campaign was shot by photographer David PD Hyde.
