The MBS Group and The British Fashion Council are delighted to share our in-depth report, Diversity and Inclusion in Fashion Industry, which measures the diversity of our industry’s leadership and the extent to which D&I is being prioritised.
Holding up a mirror to the European fashion industry, this report provides data on the state of diversity and inclusion in the sector for the first time – drawing on research across more than 100 fashion business operating in Europe and dozens of in-depth conversations with Chairs, CEOs and HR Directors.
Our research shows that, although there is evidence of progress being made, the fashion industry is not consistently prioritising D&I.
Specifically, we found that:
● Only half (51%) of fashion businesses have a coordinated D&I strategy
● Across the top-three senior leadership levels (Board, Executive Committee and Direct Reports into the ExCo), less than 40% of roles are held by women
● Just 5% of Direct Reports into the executive committee are held by those from an ethnic minority background
● Disability inclusion requires urgent action: only 7% of businesses could identify a senior leader who is Disabled
● Encouragingly, we found that fashion is an inclusive place for the LGBTQ+ community, with 62% of businesses able to identify at least one senior leader who is LGBTQ+
Also included in the report are examples of best practice from Burberry, GANNI, lululemon, PVH and Tilting the Lens, which provide insight from businesses at different stages of their journey on how to implement strategies and encourage inclusive environments.
You can download your copy of the report here.