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Prada creates diversity council after blackface outrage to ‘elevate voices of colour’ in fashion industry
- Italian luxury fashion brand takes measures after apologies from Gucci and Katy Perry about blackface in their products
- Council to be chaired by artist Theaster Gates and film director Ava DuVernay
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Italian brand Prada is forming a diversity council to “elevate voices of colour within the company and fashion industry at large”, a move that follows accusations of racism in the luxury fashion world.
Two Americans, artist Theaster Gates and film director Ava DuVernay, will chair the council, Prada said. The group will work to develop “diverse talent” and create more opportunities for students of colour, the luxury fashion house said.
Gates said his work “amplifies the voices that have been absent from the broad cultural conversations”, and he was happy to work with Prada to help make the company more “reflective of the world today.”
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Prada apologised in December and immediately withdrew bag charms that resembled black monkeys with exaggerated red lips. Critics said the charms recalled the blackface caricatures that long propagated racist stereotypes in the United States.
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The fashion world controversy intensified after a similar misstep this month by Gucci. Another prominent African-American film director, Spike Lee, said he would wear neither Prada nor Gucci until they included black designers.
“Prada is committed to cultivating, recruiting and retaining diverse talent to contribute to all departments of the company,” said Miuccia Prada, CEO and creative director. “In addition to amplifying voices of colour within the industry, we will help ensure that the fashion world is reflective of the world in which we live.”
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