The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Textiles and Fashion (T&F APPG), chaired by Dr Lisa Cameron MP, have released the Representation and Inclusion in the Fashion Industry report, looking at the role of the fashion professional and the impacts which a lack of diversity and inclusion has, not only on the individual, but also on the wider economy. The report also offers solutions to address the social, cultural and far-reaching implications of a less inclusive fashion industry.
The Representation and Inclusion in the Fashion Industry report addresses three key areas of diversity and inclusion: disability, race and LGBTQ+, while acknowledging the urgent need for further research on more areas, which will form future work by the T&F APPG’s secretariat Fashion Roundtable. The T&F APPG’s Representation and Inclusion Advisory Committee, alongside Fashion Roundtable, conducted 5 parliamentary evidence sessions, which included submissions from designers, creative directors, models, agents and fashion educators. Written submissions were also collected as part of the evidence gathering.
In addition, the Are You Represented campaign which was launched at London Fashion Week in September 2019, gathered data from 337 survey respondents, ranging from fashion professionals to students and consumers. There have been many insights gained from the data, which include:
- 68% of those surveyed stated that they had experienced or witnessed discrimination in the fashion industry based on appearance or beliefs
- 94.4% of those surveyed think it is important to see bodies like their own reflected in media images
- 83% of our evidence submissions believed that the government should play a role in demanding better representation and inclusion in the fashion industry
- 83.7% of those surveyed stated that if a fashion brand is shown to be non-inclusive, this would impact on their decision to shop with them
Dr Lisa Cameron MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Textiles and Fashion, said: “It is my hope that this paper is read widely, both by industry and government, and that our recommendations serve as a roadmap towards a more inclusive, representative and successful UK fashion industry.”
Karen Binns, Fashion Director, Fashion Roundtable, British Fashion Council Diversity Steering Group, Room Mentoring Advisory Council, adds: “Statistics do not lie. We know from the data that the person of colour spends double, sometimes triple the amount of money on clothes. Why? Because they must. We must. We are constantly the most judged on our appearances, which means we have no choice but to look the part at all times. People of colour will be dismissed, ignored, and disregarded for an equal opportunity. This is business, and if fashion brands continue to ignore this issue of disregarding their biggest consumer they will lose – completely – especially now, that all black owned businesses are on an all time rise. At the end of the day, just do the numbers!”
