Gucci unveils plan to improve diversity after controversy

After last week’s controversy over its high-necked balaclava
sweater that evoked blackface imagery, Gucci is taking measures to
ensure a similar mistake does not happen again. Both CEO Marco
Bizzarri and creative director Alessandro Michele spoke out following
the incident, calling it a “mistake” and promising to learn from
it.

The brand shared concrete plans with WWD on Friday, highlighting
long-term initiatives that aim to transform Gucci into a more diverse
and multi-cultural brand. Its first four steps are to hire directors
for diversity and inclusion at both global and regional levels, to set
up a multicultural design scholarship program, to launch a diversity
and inclusivity awareness program and to launch a global exchange
program.

Gucci said it will immediately hire five new designers, selected
from around the world, to work at the brand’s Rome design office. The
new designers will be teamed with an individual mentor to help
seamless integration within the design department.

A position for Global Director for Diversity and Inclusion has been
created, to be based at Gucci America in New York. The company is
currently searching for the new director.

Gucci’s new multicultural design scholarship program will work to
nurture new talent, through partnerships with global fashion schools
around the world. The 12-month program is built to help
underrepresented groups of talent to find opportunities.

The brand told WWD that its global learning program is objected to
educate all of the company’s 18,000 international employees “to
increase awareness of unconscious cultural bias.” The program will
start by May and be completed by the end of June.