The British Fashion Council Announces A Long Term Partnership With 50:50—The Equality Project Created By The BBC
The British Fashion Council (BFC) today announces its new partnership with 50:50 The Equality Project, an initiative created by the BBC for the media industry, as a voluntary monitoring system, with the target of creating content that fairly represents the audiences it serves, to better reflect the world around us.
Launching during London Fashion Week (LFW) presented by Clearpay, the overall purpose of the project is to help benchmark not only individual teams, but the fashion industry as a whole, using data to positively impact representation.
Designer businesses taking part in LFW will be asked to participate by collecting diversity data from their teams represented at the event, ranging from design teams to hair and make-up, models, production, communications and more.
The collected data will be used to benchmark and track progress in terms of reflecting the audiences, consumers and communities they serve and employ.
The BFC will also be collecting, benchmarking, and tracking its own progress.
The designer businesses who have signed up to take part in the first round of the project are Anciela, Anna Mason, Carlota Barrera, Edward Crutchley, Eirinn Hayhow, Ester Kubisz, Helen Kirkum, Joao Maraschin, Jordan Luca, Kaushik Valendra, Labrum, Matty Bovan, OSMAN, palmer//harding, POA, Ray Chu, Richard Malone, Roksanda, Saul Nash and Tiger of Sweden, with more designers expected to join in the near future.
Moving forward, the plan is for data collection to take place each season.
The findings of the project will begin to be published after 18 months from the start which will be used for continued benchmarking and monitoring purposes.
June Sarpong, Director of Creative Diversity BBC and Board Director BFC commented, “We look forward to seeing the success we have seen of 50:50 within the BBC, positively impact London Fashion Week. 50:50 will encourage all businesses to make more conscious choices around the teams they employ from full time employees to the freelancers employed at shows, from models, to stylists, hair and make-up artists, communications and production teams. I would like to commend Caroline Rush and her team at the BFC for championing equity and inclusion within the fashion industry.”
The partnership is an essential part of the BFC’s long-term plan to fight prejudice and galvanise the industry into action with a key long-term objective of the project being to encourage and empower cultural change across industry.
It sits as a part of the BFC Institute of Positive Fashion.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At the British Fashion Council, we value the differences that a diverse workforce brings to the organisation and are fully committed to the elimination of unlawful and unfair discrimination.
Our values are clear: We are forces for Change; We are United; We strive for Excellence and We are Innovative.
Central to these values is the commitment to champion diversity, equity and inclusion and work together to deliver positive change.
We encourage a culture which empowers, values, nurtures, supports and rewards our employees and promotes a positive environment with a focus on team collaboration and open communication.
We want our employees to bring their true self to work and we commit to developing their skills and advance their careers in a culture of creativity.
We celebrate and champion multiple approaches and points of view and believe diversity drives innovation.
Together We Are Building A Culture Based On Meritocracy, Openness, Fairness And Transparency, Where Difference And Allyship Are Valued.
The British Fashion Council Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy applies to all employees, secondees, agency staff, clients, communities, suppliers and contractors, whether permanent or temporary.
The policy applies to all processes relating to employment and training and to any dealings with members, customers and clients.
It also applies to all applicants seeking employment with the British Fashion Council.
