Following the recent unintentional balaclava jumper incident, Gucci has announced that it is investing millions of dollars in various several long-term diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives at the fashion house.
The Gucci Changemakers programme has been set up in response to a racism row after its turtleneck jumper that evoked blackface imagery, was spotted in Gucci stores and social media, just a few weeks ago. The luxury brand was quick to respond and pulled the item from both its stores and website, and Gucci President and CEO Marco Bizzarri, immediately offered an apology.
“We accept full accountability for this incident, which has exposed shortfalls in our ongoing strategic approach to embedding diversity and inclusion in both our organisation and in our activities,” he stated.
Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
KEY D&I INITIATIVES
Since the incident, Gucci announced four key long-term ‘diversity and inclusion’ initiatives to embed cultural diversity and awareness into the company (on February 14th). This included the hiring of a Global Director for Diversity and Inclusion and Regional Directors for Diversity and Inclusion for each region; a Global Multi-Cultural Design Scholarship Programme in partnership with colleges in 10 cities around the world and the hiring of 5 new designers from around the world to fill positions in the Rome design office; the Diversity and Inclusivity Awareness Programme for all of the company’s 18,000 employees; and the Internal Global Exchange Programme.
More recently, Gucci has announced an investment of US$10m into its new Changemakers programme to encourage further diversity and inclusion within the firm, dedicating US$5m for the US region, and US$5m for the Asia Pacific region.Commenting on the initiatives Bizzarri stated: “I believe in dialogue, building bridges and taking quick action. This is why we started working immediately on the long-term infrastructure at Gucci to address our shortcomings.
The Changemakers programme comprises three elements: The Gucci Changemakers Fund, a scholarship programme and a volunteering programme.
GUCCI CHANGEMAKERS FUND
The Gucci Changemakers Fund will support social change by investing in community-based programs in cities across North America. This US$5m fund will have a particular focus on building strong connections and opportunities within the African-American community and communities of colour at-large, while bringing positive change and inspiring solutions for a better future.
Gucci will enlist the support of an external council that will include community leaders and social change experts to ensure transparency, accountability and long-term impact. This Changemakers Council, which is currently in formation, will select non-profit partner organisations in cities across North America, that initially include Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, and Washington DC.
CHANGEMAKERS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME
Gucci Changemakers will have a focus on empowering young people through education by giving a voice to the next generation. Building on the company’s recently announced Global Multi-Cultural Design Scholarship Programme, Gucci will empower more diverse talent in North America to access the industry through scholarships that will be available to college students across various disciplines with the ambition to work in fashion.
The Changemakers Council will also help select eligible students from schools across North America to participate in the Gucci Changemakers Scholarship Fund, where each student will receive a US$ 20,000 grant toward completing their college education over the course of four years.
“Through our Changemakers program, we will invest important resources to unify and strengthen our communities across North America, with a focus on programs that will impact youth and the African-American community,” explained Bizzarri. “I believe in the promise of the next generation, and through our scholarship fund we will also create more opportunities for talented young people of diverse backgrounds to gain access to careers in the fashion industry.”
GUCCI CHANGEMAKERS VOLUNTEERING
Initially announced to employees in 2018, the Gucci Changemakers volunteering program will also empowers all 18,000 Gucci employees worldwide to dedicate up to four paid days off for volunteering activities in their local communities. This represents up to 8,000 days of volunteer support in North America, the first region in the global rollout, where volunteering opportunities cover four main pillars: equality; support for refugees and the homeless; protection of the environment; and education.
A parallel US$5m Changemakers Fund will also be established in the Asia Pacific region, in conjunction with the rollout of the volunteering programme in June this year.
More information on the Gucci Changemakers Scholarship, such as eligibility and the application process, will be announced on the company website shortly.
For more details, send an email to: changemakerscholarship@gucci.com
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