Fashion's Diversity Dream Crumbles: Are Top Brands Turning Their Backs on Inclusion?

Hold on to your hats, fashionistas! The sizzling debate on diversity in fashion is unraveling in the most dramatic of ways. Harlem’s Fashion Row recently hosted a Zoom-based town hall, turning the spotlight on the shifting sands affecting Black designers. The once-booming support for Black-owned brands post-George Floyd’s tragedy is now ebbing. Major players who once stood proudly for diversity are retreating! Yep, you read that right. Companies and tech giants like Meta are taking a step back from the diversity, equity, and inclusion scene they once championed. Gasp!

Wait, there's more bombshells! The new Trump administration’s executive orders are ringing the death knell for diversity efforts. An executive order, signed right on day one, has rescinded a long-standing protection against discrimination for race, gender, and more. What?!

Industry expert Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, a true legend with three decades rocking footwear design, is sounding the alarm. His prophetic words state, "Four years of progress erased in just 10 days." Feeling the heat yet?

Here's what Inga Beckham of Sergio Hudson, a high-end fashion maestro sold in big names like Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s, had to say. The switch post-Floyd from deafeningly silent to all hands on deck for diversity was like black-and-white magic. Big brands dialed in like never before. But now? It's all slipping back into the shadows.

And what about the powerhouse fashion brands like Gucci and Chanel? They lean heavily on their institutional muscle, something that emerging Black designers struggle against. According to Sergio Hudson himself, "The power in fashion is through money," and it's a treacherous climb without that financial boost.

But don't despair just yet! There's a delicious twist—a rallying cry for collective action to preserve diversity until the gears shift once again. It's not just about money; it’s about creating visibility and telling others to support Black designers too.

While companies like Target are pulling the plug on DEI, some, like Pinterest, are standing firm with a heartwarming thumbs-up to diversity efforts. And Lush Cosmetics? They're renaming their bath bombs to “Diversity,” “Equity,” and “Inclusion.” How’s that for a statement?

According to Terry Roberts at American Eagle Outfitters, they're still buckled up for the DEI journey. Many are still in the fight, looking for strategies that work. Ready to join the revolution?