Brands Lay Out Plans To Support The Black Community

06/08/20

Over the weekend, Aurora James, the creative director and founder of footwear and accessories brand Brother Vellies, called on the fashion industry’s big players, from Net-A-Porter to Saks Fifth Avenue, to commit to buying 15 percent of their products from Black-owned businesses.
“So many of your businesses are built on Black spending power,” James wrote on Instagram. “So many of your stores are set up in Black communities. So many of your sponsored posts are seen on Black feeds. This is the least you can do for us. We represent 15% of the population and we need to represent 15% of your shelf space.”
Further down in the post, she writes: “So for all of the ‘what can we do to help?’ questions out there, this is my personal answer. #15PercentPledge.”

Other companies have shown support via social media, where they are sharing ways in which to help the movement’s agenda. Others still are taking more significant steps toward change, creating manifestos and guidelines in order to rework the industry’s approach toward the Black community entirely.

Rihanna’s lingerie brand Savage x Fenty also posted a plea on Instagram calling for people to #PullUp. “Now’s not the time to stay silent or stand by. Pull TF Up,” the caption says. It also outlines the brand’s plans to donate to The Bail Project, an organization that provides free bail for those who cannot afford to pay it, and @BLMGreaterNY, the New York-specific coalition of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Ahead, we’ve put together a list of all the fashion companies who have spoken up so far as a result of this weekend’s protests. Read their messages and support them in their efforts.

To help bring attention to the police killing of George Floyd, you can sign the Change.org petition here, or donate to local organizations like Black Vision Collective or Reclaim the Block via the Minnesota Freedom Fund here.

The RealReal

“At The RealReal we believe in equality and we stand for anti-racism,” the luxury consignor wrote in an Instagram caption on Sunday. To reiterate that statement, the company announced a donation to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, as well as a commitment to developing further nonprofit partnerships to advocate for change.

The company also outlined steps that it will take going forward to support and empower Black people internally, including the introduction of a diversity task force focused on Black, People of Color, and LGBTQ communities and beginning mandatory unconscious bias training for managers and leaders.

Uniqlo

Japanese retailer Uniqlo joined forces today with the ACLU and pledged to donate $100,000 to organizations that support the Black Lives Matter movement.

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We want our actions as a business to be substantive and systematic, so we are doing the slow work to build a clear and sustained long-term strategy to fight systemic racism and make Rent the Runway, and the wider fashion industry, more diverse and anti-racist. ⁣ ⁣ Today, we are donating $100,000 to immediately support organizations combating racial injustice, including @NAACP and @blackvisionscollective. We will also be allocating an additional $1,000,000 to support Black designers through our wholesale, platform and co-manufacturing initiatives, which includes providing design resources, data, mentorship and financial support to create collections for RTR. It is critically important to us that a significant portion of our $1M goes towards launching fashion brands from Black designers who have not had the investment capital to launch on their own. ⁣ ⁣ For too long, the fashion industry has co-opted the style, inspiration and ideas of Black culture without ensuring that Black people are economically compensated for this. Therefore, we will also support @aurorajames’ #15PercentPledge. We are committing today that at least 15% of the fashion talent that we feature and support moving forward are from the Black community, inclusive of the models in our marketing, the ambassadors we use, and the styling talent, photographers, videographers and crews behind the camera. ⁣ ⁣ We know that the Black community is tired of the long-standing racism and violence. We also acknowledge the cyclical nature of society’s attention to moments of such injustice, so we vow to take systematic actions as a business that will last beyond this current moment in time. This is just the start, and we look forward to sharing further details on other plans soon. Our work has just begun.⁣

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Rent The Runway

“We are focused on our long-term strategy to create lasting change within our own business and industry, including providing a larger platform for Black designers, entrepreneurs, stylists, models, and talent,” the popular fashion rental platform wrote in an Instagram caption on Tuesday.

Later that day, in a second post, the brand announced a $100,000 donation to the NAACP, Black Visions Collective, and other organizations combating racial injustice. In addition, Rent The Runway has promised to allocate $1 million to support Black designers via its platform, be it through wholesale, manufacturing, design, data, mentorship, or financial support.

Lastly, RTR has agreed to take the #15PercentPledge introduced by designer Aurora James. “This is just the start, and we look forward to sharing further details on other plans soon. Our work has just begun,” the post reads.

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Kering and all its brands stand in solidarity against racism. Too many Black lives have been lost in the fight for equality in America. We will not stand by silently. @gucci, @ysl, @bottegaveneta, @balenciaga, @alexandermcqueen, @brioni_official, @boucheron, @pomellato, @dodojewels, @qeelinjewellery, @ulyssenardinofficial, @girardperregaux and Kering Eyewear acknowledge that words alone are not enough and want to contribute to organizations focused on combating systemic racism and ending police violence towards the Black community in the United States. Today, on behalf of all its brands, Kering is making a donation to the @naacp , which fights to eliminate race-based discrimination in the United States and Campaign Zero, an organization that aims to reduce police violence in the United States. Every day, the Group and its brands will continue to develop initiatives and internal programs to foster respect, equality and fairness, recognizing that it is a journey and we are committed to continuously doing the work.

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Kering

Kering, the parent brand to luxury labels like Gucci, YSL, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, and Alexander McQueen, announced on Tuesday that it would be making an undisclosed donation to the NAACP and Campaign Zero. “Every day, the Group and its brands will continue to develop initiatives and internal programs to foster respect, equality, and fairness, recognizing that it is a journey and we are committed to continuously doing the work,” the Group’s post on Instagram states.

Gucci

On Tuesday, Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri, Creative Director Alessandro Michele, and Gucci employees co-signed a letter stating its commitment to “fight to end systematic racism, bigotry, police violence, and oppression.” In addition, through Gucci’s North America Changemakers Impact Fund, the brand will be donating to the NAACP, Campaign Zero, and Know Your Rights Camp.

On Thursday, the brand will cease all operations in the U.S. to honor the lives lost and recommit to being a part of the solution, the brand’s Instagram caption explains.

 

Loewe

Spanish luxury brand Loewe’s creative director Jonathan Anderson and CEO Pascale Lepoivre pledged to become a part of the solution to the issue of systematic racism around the world. “Making this commitment means we must make more than just one statement, and have more than just one plan,” the letter reads. “We look forward to sharing more with you as a part of Loewe’s ongoing dedication to change. In the meantime, we hear your cries of Black Lives Matter, and we echo them proudly.”

Stella McCartney

The London-based luxury designer is donating to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to help combat racial injustice. “Racism is a pandemic that kills. It subjugates. It incarcerates. It humiliates,” McCartney writes on Instagram. “We are the vaccine – we must stand strong and unite against systemic ignorance today and begin to build a better tomorrow, for everyone.”

 

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We started the OUR FLOWER SHOP as a place to come together while we were distanced. I felt the suffering of many and felt desperate to do something, whether it was to give back, or just to help someone smile…even if for a second. While we still struggle with the pandemic, what has always scared me more is this racist pandemic that must stop. We have lost too many innocent lives in such an inhumane way. While OUR FLOWER SHOP is not a solution, I hope that something small can eventually lead to something bigger. This bouquet is not only dedicated to George Floyd, but the countless lives we have lost to racism. 100% of the proceeds of this bouquet will go to MINESSOTA FREEDOM FUND. @mnfreedomfund #georgefloyd #blacklivesmatter Update 5/31 @Mnfreedomfund has done incredible work and raised 20 million dollars! They are asking to reallocate donations to help other organizations…because of this we will be moving ALL proceeds received for OUR FLOWER SHOP bouquet to @bailoutnyc

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Jonathan Cohen

Jonathan Cohen’s Flower Shop, which the NY-based designer first established as a mode to uplift people during COVID-19, has since turned into a resource for raising money for the Black Lives Matter movement. Hundred percent of the proceeds from the “For George Floyd” digital bouquet was first donated to Minnesota Freedom Fund; after the organization raised $20 million, it asked Cohen’s team to begin donating to other organizations in need. Now, the proceeds are going to Bailout NYC.

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@wholefoods @target @shopmedmen @walmart @saks @sephora @netaporter @barnesandnoble @homedepot I am asking you to commit to buying 15% of your products from Black owned businesses. . So many of your businesses are built on Black spending power. So many of your stores are set up in Black communities. So many of your sponsored posts are seen on Black feeds. This is the least you can do for us. We represent 15% of the population and we need to represent 15% of your shelf space. . Whole Foods if you were to sign on to this pledge, it could immediately drive much needed support to Black farmers. Banks will be forced to take them seriously because they will be walking in with major purchase orders from Whole Foods. Investors for the very first time will start actively seeking them out. Small businesses can turn into bigger ones. Real investment will start happening in Black businesses which will subsequently be paid forward into our Black communities. . Dont get me wrong, I understand the complexities of this request. I am a business Woman. I have sold millions of dollars of product over the years at a business I started with $3500 at a flea market. So I am telling you we can get this figured out. This is an opportunity. It is your opportunity to get in the right side of this. . So for all of the ‘what can we do to help?’ questions out there, this is my personal answer. #15PercentPledge . I will get texts that this is crazy. I will get phone calls that this is too direct, too big of an ask, too this, too that. But I don’t think it’s too anything, in fact I think it’s just a start. You want to be an ally? This is what I’m asking for.

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Brother Vellies

In her post, James says that the fashion industry might think the #15PercentPledge is asking a lot. “I will get texts that this is crazy. I will get phone calls that this is too direct, too big of an ask, too this, too that,” she writes. “But I don’t think it’s too anything, in fact I think it’s just a start. You want to be an ally? This is what I’m asking for.”

Below her post, James comments, “And yet again this is information and education brought to you free of charge. You’re welcome,” further reiterating the fact that it isn’t the Black community’s responsibility to educate white people.

Savage x Fenty

In addition to donating proceeds from the brand to both The Bail Project and the Black Lives Matter movement in greater NY, Rihanna and Savage x Fenty are also asking their fans and followers to #PullUp and do their part and speak up.

Nike

In a video posted to the brand’s Instagram on Saturday, Nike calls on its 113 million followers “to be a part of the change.” “For once, don’t do it,” the video reads, followed by a series of statements including, “don’t pretend there’s not a problem in America,” “don’t turn your back on racism,” and “don’t accept innocent lives being taken from us.”

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#BlackLivesMatter #NAACP

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Aritzia

In solidarity with the Black community and to honor George Floyd, Vancouver-based brand Aritzia is donating $100,000 to the NAACP and Black Lives Matter. “In a moment where we can’t possibly find the words, we’re using our platform as a call to action — to speak up, to listen, to love our neighbors, to learn from our neighbors, to think critically, to come together and do what’s right,” the post says.

Marc Jacobs

The designer took to Instagram this weekend, writing “A life cannot be replaced. Black Lives Matter” on a photo of his LA store’s sign which was crossed out and replaced with the names George Floyd and Sandra Bland. In another post, the designer wrote, “Property can be replaced, human lives CANNOT.”

Reebok

Yesterday, UK-based athleticwear brand Reebok took to Instagram to show its support for the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as to encourage people “to walk in someone else’s shoes, to stand in solidarity, and to find our common ground of humanity.” Also in the post, the brand recognizes that “without the Black community, Reebok would not exist. America would not exist.”

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Now is the time for action. It is our moment to have difficult conversations, to challenge ourselves, to ask hard questions, to resist, TO GET LOUD, to act outside our comfort zone, and to reach across the aisle. We can no longer exercise our activism or use our voice when it is comfortable for us. In order to achieve real change, we must achieve true solidarity by becoming allies and helping to build a global support system. There is power in our collective voice and resistance. For far too long, minority communities have been marginalised through racist policing and imprisonment, police brutality, state and federal funds and resources being cut from areas with large minority populations, unequal pay that contributes to socio-economic inequality, relaxed environmental regulations in minority areas, and the list goes on. Our leaders have sadly failed us in fixing this broken system, and so it is the responsibility of us, the citizens, to make it happen. So stand up, resist with love, fight against injustice, support minority owned businesses, protect those around you, educate yourself, invest in your activism, donate (swipe to see some incredible organizations in this post) – and remember that silence and inaction are the ultimate form of complicity. Humanity is not tied to one person, place, gender, or race. Our liberation is bound together, we need to turn segregated oppression into a collective resistance. We have to demand change, and demand that the violence and murder of innocent Black lives STOPS. #blacklivesmatter #georgefloyd #sayhisname #saytheirnames

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Prabal Gurung

“Stand up, resist with love, fight against injustice, support minority-owned businesses, protect those around you, educate yourself, invest in your activism, donate (swipe to see some incredible organizations in this post) – and remember that silence and inaction are the ultimate forms of complicity,” a post on the brand’s Instagram reads.

On an earlier post, the brand included a list of ways to take action: “Donate to important organizations: Text FLOYD to 55156 for George Floyd, Text ENOUGH to 55156 for Breonna Taylor, Text JUSTICE to 55156 for Ahmaud Arbery.”

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At GANNI, we stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. As we’ve been researching and educating ourselves, our silence—born out of the fear of saying the wrong thing—has gone on for too long. Today, our company and founders will be donating $100,000 across the below organisations, in support of the fight to end racial injustice. @blklivesmatter @naacp @aclu_nationwide We know this is not enough—we must continue to listen, research, and educate ourselves about systematic injustice and state sanctioned violence against Black people globally. We have a lot of work to do, but we commit to doing better and commit to continued action. If you are thinking about making a purchase with GANNI this week, we ask you to consider donating to an anti-racism organization instead. Additionally, starting this week and each week moving forward, we will be commissioning work from the Black creative community to share on our platforms. If you are a Black creator that’s interested in collaborating with GANNI, please DM us. It’s a small start, but the change begins now. #BlackLivesMatter #NoJusticeNoPeace #GeorgeFloyd #AhmaudArbery #BreonnaTaylor

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Ganni

Copenhagen-based fashion brand Ganni announced on Monday that it will donate $100,000 to the NAACP, Black Lives Matter, and the ACLU. “We know this is not enough—we must continue to listen, research, and educate ourselves about systematic injustice and state-sanctioned violence against Black people globally,” the post reads.

Ganni’s website was also closed on Monday, with the homepage asking potential shoppers to consider instead donating to anti-racist organizations. The brand is also encouraging Black creatives to message them, as it plans to commission work to share on their social media platforms.

Warby Parker

New York-based eyewear brand Warby Parker pledged $1 million to organizations focused on fighting systematic racism across the country. As for which organizations will receive the funds, the brand is taking input from multiple sources, per a comment on the post. “Our ultimate goal is to ensure these funds are distributed to groups that will drive meaningful impact toward combating systemic racism. We will share more details on our approach once it’s finalized,” the brand wrote in response to a commenter.

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#BlackLivesMatter

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Glossier

Glossier has pledged to donate $1 million in total to the cause. $500,000 will be allocated to organizations focused on combating racial injustice, including Black Lives Matter, The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, The Equal Justice Initiative, The Marsha P. Johnson Institute, and We The Protesters. An additional $500,000 will be granted to Black-owned beauty businesses later in June.

Balenciaga

The luxury fashion brand has established an annual May 25th donation to the NAACP. Additionally, they plan to support local action against racism in France by setting up a France-based fund.

Fenty

Rihanna suspended sales on all three of her Fenty brands in honor of Blackout Tuesday. Additionally, donations were spread out across each Fenty branch, sending funds to Black Lives Matter Greater NY, The Bail Project, Reclaim the Block, Color of Change, and Movement for Black Lives.

 

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#blacklivesmatter #diorstandswithyou

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Dior

Dior will be matching all employee contributions to Black Lives Matter, NAACP, and Dream Defenders in order to do their part in standing in solidarity with injustice in the Black community.

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We speak today as members of a global community, united in solidarity with those who are standing up for change. . The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade and too many others are a painful reminder of how far we still need to go in the fight against racism and all forms of inequality. . As human beings, we all need to do better. If we are to build a truly inclusive society where everyone is respected and valued, we need to speak up, listen to and learn from one another and take action. . At Burberry, we have made a commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion, equity and belonging. Now more than ever, we stand strongly by it, informed by each other and our Diversity and Inclusion Councils. . As allies, we are adding our voice to the call for the change that is needed. As part of this we will be making a donation to Black Lives Matter. . #blacklivesmatter

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Burberry

Racism is not just an American problem, and British brand Burberry announced that it would be donating an undisclosed sum to Black Lives Matter.

H&M

The Swedish giant H&M Group (which also owns & Other Stories and Cos) promised to donate $500,000 across the NAACP, the ACLU and Color of Change.

Coach

 

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Given the deplorable acts of racism and violence that we have seen play out in our country over this past week, our response as an organization was first and foremost on our minds and in our hearts. Black people in this country are reeling from years of injustice stemming from institutional constructs such as slavery, segregation, mass incarceration, police brutality and economic and voter suppression. The Black community is experiencing anger and frustration on top of the effects of the global pandemic that has hit communities of color the hardest. Having a clear voice and speaking out against racial injustice, bigotry and hatred is the first step, but this is not enough. It is not enough to simply say that we stand in solidarity with those who are discriminated against. We must do something. The CFDA outlines initiatives that will immediately be undertaken to create systemic change within our industry: • The CFDA will create an in-house employment program specifically charged with placing Black talent in all sectors of the fashion business to help achieve a racially balanced industry. This program will be tasked with identifying Black creatives and pairing these individuals with companies looking to hire. • The CFDA will also create a mentorship program and an internship program focused on placing Black students and recent graduates within established companies in the fashion sector. • The CFDA will implement and make available to our members a Diversity and Inclusion training program. • We will make immediate contributions and take up fundraising activities in support of charitable organizations aimed at equalizing the playing field for the Black community such as, but not limited to the NAACP and Campaign Zero – amongst others. We urge each and every member of the CFDA to take stock of their corporate structure to ensure that they have a racially balanced workforce and we challenge the retail sector of the fashion industry to ensure that their roster of brands and their product assortment is representative of the Black talent in our industry. Sincerely, Tom Ford, Chairman Steven Kolb, President & CEO #blacklivesmatter

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CFDA