The fashion industry has long been criticised for its lack of diversity. The Black in Fashion Council was set up to change that.
It was announced in June 2020 by Lindsay Peoples Wagner, then editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, and the publicist Sandrine Charles. Its aim is to represent and secure the advancement of Black people working in the fashion and beauty industries.
Holding the industry to account
The Council works with brands, publications and others in the industry to close the gap between promises and action, with a focus on long-term progress rather than one-off statements.
The Equality Index
Its best-known initiative is an Equality Index, developed with help from the Human Rights Campaign and modelled on its Corporate Equality Index. The index scores companies on how inclusive their policies are for Black employees. Companies that sign a three-year pledge to improve Black representation at every level receive a yearly public report on their progress.
Why it matters
Fashion shapes culture. Representation at every level of the industry, from the studio to the boardroom, changes what ends up in front of the rest of us.
How you can help
Support brands that take diversity and inclusion seriously, share the work of Black creatives, and keep asking for progress. You can read more about the Council’s work on their website.
A note on our name: this website pre-dates the Black in Fashion Council and is not affiliated with it in any way. We’re about the colour black. We support their mission.