Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. All three will play an instrumental role in shaping the future of a healthy fashion industry, and there are multiple facets that need to be addressed, including gender parity. Enter the new Ralph Lauren Corp. paper, Unlocking Gender Parity in Fashion. Announced today, it makes a case for action and provides a roadmap for gender parity with a five-point plan.
Ralph Lauren and Parity.org brought together a group of prominent apparel brand leaders in New York and Paris to create the roadmap and close the gender gap at the top.
“Across the industry, we recognize that we need to make discernible progress on diversity, equality and inclusion. By coming together to develop a consistent method and approach to achieving gender parity and greater diversity, we can move further, faster,” said Roseann Lynch, Chief People Officer, Ralph Lauren. “This roadmap represents a significant milestone for our industry, and we look forward to continuing to engage in meaningful dialogue with our peers as it is embraced and implemented across companies.”
The study addresses experiences of all women, including women of color, LGBTQIA+, disabled, or those with identify with any other underrepresented group.
“As an industry, we have a responsibility to accelerate our progress toward a more equitable world—and part of that means taking action to close the gender gap and create environments where individuals can thrive, regardless of gender, race or ethnicity,” Ralph Lauren CEO Patrice Louvet said, in the paper. “Our roadmap for gender equality creates a consistent method for collective progress.”
CFDA CEO Steven Kolb added, “The fashion industry needs to make a concerted effort to create more pathways for women and more gender equality at the top, especially since women represent the core customer of our business. We need tangible opportunities for women in their careers and in their lives so that they can continue to flourish and grow.”
It is, as the paper states, “time to end the glaring inequities for all women In fashion.”
Click here to view the paper.w
