Create more diversity in the fashion and design industry

Diversity is increasingly important in society. Because numerous people demand more visibility of minorities .

Large fashion brands like to commit diversity on the flags and present themselves cosmopolitan and diverse. What they point to the outside world often does not match reality in the company.

A lack of diversity in the design industry

Visibility is a central topic when it comes to diversity. By promoting fashion companies with models that not only know, slim and unreserved in their mobility, they take a first step.

It is not uncommon for the substance to be missing. As a result, people who belong to minorities feel used and not really seen. Because it is not enough to buy a various shell if the latest women's fashion only comes from white, male designers and the marketing team is also only a little diverse.

GNTM, Miss Germany, Victoria's Secret: How diverse is the fashion industry really?

In today's fashion industry, diversity is increasingly written, be it at Germany's Next Top Model , Miss Germany or Victoria's Secret . But how authentic and diverse are the companies behind these TV formats and fashion brands really?

Is diversity only staged for reasons of quota and profit or is it actually lived and taken seriously?

In order to learn more about the phenomenon of diversity Washing , Walerija spoke to the sociologist and Vice Miss Germany 2021, Katharina Wohlrab. How does Katharina assess diversity at GNTM, Miss Germany and Victoria's Secret?

In addition, Walerija had the opportunity to look behind the scenes of Heidi Klum's model competition with the former GNTM participant Sara Ullmann behind the scenes of Heidi Klum.

We are looking forward to your opinions on the various formats: Is everything authentic or is it more diversity Washing?

Real diversity can only be achieved through inclusion

In order to create diversity in the fashion industry , members of minorities must become part of the machinery. This can only succeed if you also take on creative tasks and make decisions. That would also be a win for fashion companies themselves. Because they could show real diversity to the outside and would probably no longer step into so many fat. As a result, even one or the other shit storm could be prevented.

Another important approach is the realization that diversity is more than just the skin color. People who belong to other minorities would also like to be seen and can recognize themselves in the designs of the fashion industry. This includes, for example:

• People with disabilities
• LGBTQIA+
• multi -weight people
• People with a migration background

Last but not least, women are still underrepresented in the fashion world, even if they do not belong to any minority in relation to the general population. There are many women who strive for a career in the fashion industry. In the management levels, however, they are in many companies in the minority. The designs of the large fashion houses are also often designed by men, so that they also keep creative sovereignty.

In addition to women's fashion in large sizes, fashion companies should also have multi -weight employees in the team for more diversity. People with disabilities should not only appear in the fashion catalog or as a model in the online shop, but actually have been involved in the creation of the garment or in its marketing.

This also applies to people from other minorities. In general, it makes sense to put together the team in such a way that your own target group is also represented in it.

Mentoring by a diversity manager in

In order to concrete the above solutions, fashion companies can go different ways. a diversity manager can help to put together the team as diverse as possible.

It is not just about hiring people who belong to different minorities, but also to strengthen their self -confidence and at the same time create an open discussion culture. Because only if relatives of underrepresented groups of people dare to say their opinion at the meeting or to express concerns if they have the feeling that a border is exceeded can fertile cooperation arise.

Themes such as cultural appropriation in fashion are often difficult for the dominant white majority society. Here the perspective of a person of color eyes can open. Because discriminatory actions are not always deliberate.

Often, however, there is a lack of the necessary sensitivity.