Happy International Women’s Day! Today is a day to commemorate the courage and resilience of women around the world in the face of adversity and inequality. It’s also a day to celebrate progress, and to recommit ourselves to the ongoing struggle for gender equity.
This year’s theme is “Embrace Equity” – an inspiring call to action. We believe that equity in the fashion industry must be embraced. Women represent the majority of the fashion industry’s workforce, yet their voices are often underrepresented in fashion’s leadership roles and their contributions often go unrecognized.
Beyond the progress we’ve made in this industry, we must look to a community that is equitable, inclusive, and respectful of all individuals. This means creating a workplace culture where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. We must recognize the value of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences and create opportunities for everyone to have their voices heard.
We must also confront the systemic barriers that prevent women from accessing the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. This includes eliminating gender-based pay disparities, providing access to career-development resources, and addressing the lack of representation of women of color at all levels of the fashion industry.