Diversity news and archive

Women designers 'not getting the breaks' despite global fashion shake-up

In fashion at the moment, as seen on catwalks: frills, corsets, big shoulder pads, and "naked dresses". Out of fashion: employing women as chief designers. In the most recent Spring-Summer 2026 womenswear Fashion Weeks in Paris and Milan, the effects of a huge reshuffle at the top of the European luxury clothing industry were plain to see. From...

Fashion

Thinness is back on catwalks -- and the data proves it

After a short interlude of pushing "body inclusivity" and plus-sized models to the fore, the fashion industry has returned to promoting thinness as a beauty ideal. Data published this week from Vogue Business, based on catwalk shows in the most recent Spring/Summer 2026 Fashion Weeks, corroborated what models with regular or larger body sizes...

Featured

Retail

Primark launches mannequin to represent wheelchair users

Fashion retailer Primark has unveiled its first-ever seated mannequin, designed to represent wheelchair users, as part of its ongoing commitment to inclusion and better representation on the high street. The mannequin was inspired by and co-created with British TV presenter, author, disability advocate, and wheelchair user Sophie Morgan. It will...

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Business

Plus-size revolution: When fashion adapts to body diversity

The global plus-size clothing market is crossing a new threshold of global consolidation. Valued at 314.5 billion dollars in 2024, it could reach 375.7 billion dollars by 2030, according to the latest forecasts from Research and Markets. This growth, estimated at 3 percent per year, reflects a profound shift in societal expectations, business...

Retail

Diversity in retail: UK boards approach gender parity, ethnic diversity lags

The British retail industry is nearing gender parity at the board level, with women holding 47 percent of roles, up from 32 percent five years ago, according to a report by the BRC and The MBS Group. This progress is attributed to deliberate strategies like leadership development and D&I initiatives. However, wider diversity gaps persist. Ethnic...

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Business

Target rolls back DEI initiatives as Trump’s term begins

US retail giant Target has announced that it will be concluding its three-year diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals, alongside other associated initiatives, in a move that seemingly aligns with the values of the new Trump administration. In a press release, Target said that in addition to the conclusion of its DEI goals, it would also be...

Fashion

British Vogue boss worries about return of thinness

London - The editorial director of British Vogue magazine, Chioma Nnadi, said she was "very concerned" about the return of thin models, a trend she linked to the widespread use of anti-obesity drugs, in an interview with the BBC. "We're at a time where we're seeing thinness coming back into fashion, which is being presented as a trend when we...

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Business

New report unveils gender disparities in Italian fashion manufacturing industry

Non-profit Global Fashion Agenda and accountancy firm PwC Italy have published a preliminary research report that provides a detailed assessment of pay disparities in the Italian fashion sector. Titled “Unpacking Pay Equity in Fashion: Italy”, the report was developed with support from the Italian fashion association Camera Nazionale della Moda...

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Business

Research: Size-inclusive product photos lead to fewer returns and more confident consumer purchasing behaviour

The age-old idea that thin models sell more clothes is being debunked by recent research published in the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, entitled 'One size does not fit all: Optimising size-inclusive model photography mitigates fit risk in online fashion retailing'. The researchers not only show that featuring different-sized...

Fashion

Kurt Geiger expands youth academy, commits to hiring graduates

British footwear retailer Kurt Geiger is doubling down on its commitment to diversity in the fashion industry with an ambitious expansion of its Business by Design Academy. The company has pledged to offer roles at its head office to up to 50 percent of the programme's graduates, marking a significant investment in young talent from...

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Fashion

The sizeable gap in men's fashion week diversity

As the men's fashion weeks in Florence, Milan, and Paris conclude, a glaring absence on the catwalks has become apparent: the near-total absence of mid-size and XL male models. This oversight not only calls into question the industry's commitment to diversity but also underscores a significant disconnect between fashion's aspirational imagery...

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Business

BRC: Retail still lacking in the way of inclusion despite slight improvements

A new report by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has outlined slight improvements in the UK’s retail sector in the way of diversity and inclusion, yet such elements remain tough to crack. Together with The MBS Group, the BRC released a Diversity and Inclusion in UK Retail report, looking into areas such as gender, ethnicity and disability,...