The Prada Group is taking steps to further diversity and inclusion both within its corporate structure and in the fashion industry as a whole, stating that its making “substantial investments” in a series of talent and educational advancement programs to support and uplift people of color.
In an effort to increase representation within the industry, Prada has partnered with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) to develop scholarships focused exclusively on aspiring fashion industry professionals and undergraduate students of color in the United States and Africa. Moreover, the Group is working closely with UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, to develop an educational fashion module to promote gender equality in Africa – initially launching in Ghana and Kenya – and will collaborate with its Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Co-Chair, artist, social innovator, and Founder of Rebuild Foundation, Theaster Gates, to create a design lab for diverse designers and artists in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.
- Generation Prada Internship for diverse talent, providing hands-on opportunities across Prada Group’s corporate and retail teams.
- Prada Group FIT Scholarships to a top-performing, diverse American student and one to a top-performing female student from Ghana or Kenya.
- Prada Group UNFPA Education Module for young women in Kenya and Ghana, using fashion and design as a tool to affect social change and promote gender equality.
- Prada + Dorchester Industries Experimental Design Lab to recruit and award talented designers of color in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.
“Prada Group is taking real and significant actions that will expand career and professional opportunities for people of color in the fashion industry,” said Malika Savell, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer for Prada North America. “We recognize the barriers to entering the fashion industry and the importance of representation, so we want to develop many new programs that will advance and mentor aspiring fashion professionals, while investing in the next generation of diverse talent.”
“We are extremely proud of these programs, which reflect Prada Group’s commitment to cultivating, recruiting and retaining diverse talent and to creating an inclusive culture,” said Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Head of Marketing and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility. “These initiatives mark real progress, and we look forward to building on this momentum to create more opportunities that increase diversity and representation both within Prada and in the fashion industry today and in the future”.
—
Photo Credit: Grisha Bruev / Shutterstock.com