FIT launches Social Justice Centre for change in fashion industry

The effort's hallmark is a seamless and sustained interconnection between early education, college mentorship and training, and professional career support. Founding partners PVH Corp., Capri Holdings Limited, and Tapestry, Inc., through their respective foundations, have each committed $1 million to help launch the centre. Separately, G-III Apparel Group, made the establishing gift to the SJC Scholarship Fund, which already has reached more than $1.5 million in contributions. Other industry leaders have pledged support, including Carolina Herrera, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Saks, Target, and The Fragrance Foundation, FIT said in a press release.

The SJC at FIT will nurture a racially and ethnically diverse talent pipeline, from the middle school classroom to the executive level, which is focused on breaking down systemic barriers and ensuring that BIPOC professionals achieve their full potential. This approach is supported by four pillars: collaboration among leading corporate and non-profit CEOs who are committed to promoting the talent potential of aspiring BIPOC youth and advancing the careers of BIPOC professionals; access to the talent, creativity, and expertise of FIT faculty and students as resources; a sustained commitment to funding support for scholarships and programs; and ongoing accountability that will identify and measure the advancement of BIPOC professionals. 

"A powerful and much overdue dialogue was sparked last year around diversity and inclusion, which led to a sobering realisation that there was much work to do within the creative industries and at FIT as well. Since then, we have been building a strong foundation for the SJC. I am grateful for the early support from PVH, Capri Holdings, Tapestry, G-III Apparel Group, and FIT's other charter partners. They have demonstrated a formidable commitment to these efforts, and I am confident that the centre is poised to effect meaningful change," said FIT president Joyce F Brown.  

"What we have seen thus far are companies or colleges whose focus is either on the workplace or on education. The focus for the SJC is on the whole individual. We will intervene early with BIPOC youth so they can make informed decisions about their future and the careers they might choose to pursue. While they are in college, we will provide exposure to the inner workings of industry as well as concentrated support and training. Our partners in industry will then mentor, guide, and provide opportunities to accelerate their career potential. It is our obligation at FIT to mobilise our resources and our network to remove existing obstacles so that racially and ethnically diverse students can be recognised for their value in all of the creative fields, including fashion, beauty, interior design, graphic design, advertising, and communications," Brown explained.

"This is an incredibly important initiative towards making a real and lasting positive change in the fashion industry, and we are honoured to support its launch as a founding partner," said Stefan Larsson, chief executive officer of PVH Corp. "The goals for the Social Justice Centre align with our own values to foster an environment of inclusion, belonging, and equity for all across the industry. We believe the unique approach of the SJC to provide support at every stage of the career journey will help ensure that promising creative talent in the BIPOC community have the tools they need, as well as a clearer pathway to access and success."

"We are proud to support FIT as one of the founding members of the SJC and foster their important work to support diversity, inclusion, and equity throughout the fashion industry," said John D Idol, chairman and chief executive officer of Capri Holdings Limited. "Diversity and inclusion are embedded in the DNA of each of our fashion luxury brands and we are excited for the opportunity to work with FIT to create meaningful opportunities in fashion for underrepresented communities."

"As a founding member of the SJC, we are honoured to partner with FIT to advance equity and opportunity in the fashion industry and effect real and lasting change," said Joanne Crevoiserat, chief executive officer of Tapestry. "At Tapestry, we believe that bringing together different backgrounds and experiences sparks brilliance and that the work of the SJC will enrich all. We look forward to working closely with FIT to make the fashion world more inclusive by fostering underrepresented perspectives and BIPOC talent who will be the future leaders that drive our industry forward."    

"We are proud of our partnership with FIT in launching the SJC, which is an essential step forward in support of the BIPOC community," said Morris Goldfarb, chairman and CEO of G-III Apparel Group. "G-III Apparel Group has had a longstanding commitment to FIT and its best-in-class programs aimed at moving the industry forward. The Social Justice Centre furthers that mission and our own work at G-III Apparel Group to enact change and provide equal opportunities for all."

"I am honoured to return to my alma mater and assist President Brown in building a unique model of a higher education/industry partnership that will benefit BIPOC youth, college students, and professionals," said Jeff Tweedy, an alumnus of FIT's Menswear programme. "I am excited to meet with and talk to my industry friends and colleagues about this crucial effort because the SJC at FIT is the future of our creative industries. This effort is extremely important to me because diversity in the industry has been missing for too long.”

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)