Apparel Design Software Helps Fashion Brands to Keep Their Diversity and Inclusivity Promise10/8/2021 Fashion is an extremely vibrant and exciting industry that employs more than a million people across the US and attracts billions of aspiring designers and professions. However, certain sections of society, workers and other talented and well-deserving individuals are often overlooked, especially people of color and different body types. These people have struggled to break into the industry, and those who have managed to enter often feel out of place. Consequently, various brands have taken note and are adopting solutions to become more inclusive, but these attempts seem to fall short. In such scenarios, customization is the best bet for fashion brands as they can be more transparent and manufacture designs that are inclusive. The clothes design software is one such customization tool that allows your buyers to select and wear apparel that matches perfectly with their personality, fashion taste, body type, and color. It also has digital features that make it easier for buyers to preview the product before heading for the final payment. Apparel Design Software Offers Solutions to Embrace Diversity and InclusivityFor many fashion lovers, the apparel industry is considered racist and ignorant to the discrimination it has been leading to in society. However, significant barriers had started to break down over the last year, when a black designer was installed at a leading luxury house. In fact, black photographers were called in to shoot the cover of Vogue for the first time and to help the leading magazine to shun its age-old exclusivity. More people joining the cause of people with diverse backgrounds joining the fashion industry is making its more marketing images. The sector is still riffing with systematic barriers for non-white creatives and executives, especially for the back designers, as the sector gradually begins to recognize and address their issues. It also leads to increasingly troubling gaffes for fashion's leaders, such as Prada's monkey trinkets that closely resembled racist caricatures or Dolce & Gabbana's stereotype-heavy China video campaign. Additionally, for a long-time, diversity and inclusion have become buzzwords in the fashion industry in recent months. The terms have been bandied about by brands and companies keen to show their alignment with both causes, yet too many are using them incorrectly, putting us steps behind rather than finally moving forward. It is best and high time that both elements are used at the forefront of the business goals, but with caution. Fashion brands must establish transparency and promote progression so that they can display to the world that they are sensitive towards the persisting injustice done to the overlooked customers. It is imperative that they clear their consciousness and understand what these two words really entail and the difference between the two. The problem the apparel sector is currently witnessing is that diversity and inclusion seem to come as a package, and when the 'diversity' box is ticked, it is wrongly assumed that the inclusivity one has, too, but this is far from the case. Diversity on its own is open to various interpretations because it is arguably, an outward-facing achievement. For instance, brands are increasingly using catwalks as the medium to display their diverse range of models, such as age, size, race, and ability. This display satisfies customers that the brand is working on the aspects related to diversity, and inclusivity will follow from it. But what people tend to forget is that were these models were happy, safe, and comfortable when they were asked to do the catwalk. Were they valued? Were they paid the same as their male or younger counterparts or white models, for that matter? One of the most underrated questions inclusivity asks is whether, in that instance, the models would take part again. Do they truly believe that that brand understands the need for diversity? These questions will help fashion brands introspect about what they are offering and the difference in what they practice and preach. A comprehensive New York Times piece published earlier this year highlights the executive level's problems and the height of ignorance when they were asked about diversity issues. The top-level executives allowed interviews via emails or questions well in advance, relied heavily on PR jargon to describe initiatives and completely shied away from sharing hard numbers to support their claim. As per CaSandra Diggs, Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) president, brands should focus more on quotas, which will help them emphasize quantity over quality. Though quotas undermine the diverse representation of people and their talent, it is crucial in identifying the loopholes and enable brands to work towards them. The president isn't completely wrong about focusing more on quality to measure progress. Besides, the rising consciousness among consumers has taken centre stage across all forms of social media. Generation Z voices and their sociopolitical movement for embracing all body types and skin colors are being heard everywhere in recent years. After the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by police, the protests that ensued during the summer of 2020 cornered a number of industries, including the fashion sector, into publicly declaring their support for the Black community. Brands for a long-time were indeed known for their less-than-stellar reputation for racial diversity, and post the protest, brands across all facets of the business made formal and informal commitments to do better. The industry that had specifically faced a broad array of criticism, including diversity, inclusivity, ethicality, and sustainability, and despite fashion brands making progressive efforts that were previously unheard of, there is still a long way to go. And with diversity and inclusivity becoming the essential components of online retail for consumers, brands must acknowledge the need for racial diversity, body inclusivity, sexual representation, and disability community representation. They are the future of fashion. One of the first culprits of fashion inclusivity was and continues to remain the size inclusion. The narrative of skinny, long-legged models with light skin tones and sharp features gradually disappears in favor of body positivity movement. The women and men of all body types and sizes are represented in the collection introduced by various labels. The unrealistic beauty standards and sizes for women ranging from 0-4 have become intolerable among the public. According to Luxiders Magazine, the body positivity movement is the "largest push-back against a lack of diversity and positive self-images in the fashion industry." Apparel Design Software Helps Brands to Maintain Body Positivity Promises Body positivity was one of the first aspects of fashion inclusivity highlighted in the public eye, largely because traditional modelling agencies demanded white, skinny, and young females. The narrative of being slim was so strong that women who were didn't fall in the category lacked self-esteem. It was so vividly present in both men and women that according to Park Nicollet Melrose Center, nearly 70 per cent of perfectly healthy women desire to be thinner, and 80 per cent don't like how they look. Besides, size inclusivity is only one part of the problem, and with a growing demand now, the fashion industry needs to look for diverse options in the fashion industry, specifically to embrace racial and ethnic diversity. According to The Business of Fashion, the practice of "occasionally putting a non-white face on a magazine cover" is no longer enough, nor has it ever been. Fashion is meant to reflect the audience for which it serves, which means finally representing people of color community rather than exclusively targeting white people. However, the 3D clothing design software, a customization solution, allows brands to deal with this problem to a great extent as it allows buyers to determine what they want and how they want to wear. It thus reduces the influence of brands to dictate what should be manufactured and help them produce and design clothes that celebrate each customer and embrace their differences. Arguably, the most important aspect of diversity and inclusivity is the infrastructural change within a company, the devotion to really choose to invest and believe in change. When diverse decision-makers and executives are allowed to enter the industry's highest levels, that's when real change happens. It's notinfluential voice, a 'seat at the table where decisions are being made. In recent years there have been two great examples of inclusivity. It is true that true representation would come when people in the back-end offices offer doors for diverse people and let them work in the offices, and gradually this will be translated in the front of the magazines and fashion shows. But the fact of the matter is that the job of holding fashion companies accountable has unfortunately fallen to the very people who have had to claw their way to the top. The editor-in-chief, Lindsay Peoples Wagner of Black in Fashion Council and Sandrine Charles, focuses on a top-down approach to ensuring brands keep their word. The organization was founded last year, and since then, it has hired professionals with varying roles in the industry. It is true that strategy for every brand varies, but Wagner seems to get quarterly calls to go over specific initiatives they have put in writing. In addition to providing guidance to companies, Black in Fashion Council hosts job fairs, town halls, and showrooms featuring Black designers. Also, brands and designers that work round the clock to ensure diversity and inclusivity should be recognized, and their stories must inspire other companies as well. For instance, this year's Fashion Awards are anticipated to return with a bang, as they are anticipated to honour Tommy Hilfiger with the Outstanding Achievement Award. The award show will be heading back to the Royal Albert Hall this November; the American designer will be awarded for his outstanding contribution to the global fashion industry and his continued commitment to creating an inclusive brand that champions people from all backgrounds and experiences. The British Fashion Council released a statement that said, "As the designer and founder of one of the world's most recognized lifestyle companies, Hilfiger is driven by an ever-optimistic vision to break conventions and celebrate individuality. From innovative partnerships and celebrity endorsements to fostering inclusion and diversity in the fashion industry, and pioneering sustainable initiatives, he has been one of the most influential leaders of the last two centuries and an inspiration to the future generation." Speaking of attention and recognition, the LGBTQ community is becoming mainstream in the fashion industry. More brands celebrate Pride month every year and offer discounts and products that show that the community is now being heard and respected. The Fashion Spot reported that the S/S 2020 New York Fashion Week was the second most gender-inclusive New York Fashion Week in history. Out of the 2,327 models cast, 24 were transgender, and 12 models who identify as non-binary. A big difference from the S/S 2016 season, where only three transgender models were cast. The rise of transgender models sparks important discussions in mainstream media about the importance of representation and inclusivity. The lack of personalization in the fashion industry makes the LGBTQ+ community case even worse, especially for the younger population. They have to decide between the two genders regardless of whether they identify with them or not, and this is extremely limiting. Modelling has failed similarly, with many transgender and non-binary models feeling forced to conceal their true identities to obtain success in the fashion industry. Members of the LGBTQ+ community should not have to hide their sexuality or gender to succeed. When individuals who struggle with the same issues can see their representations on the TV and magazine can open the door to a whole new market. They can seamlessly succeed in a world as cut-throat as high fashion. This is true for people with disabilities, and according to Glamour, their population account for 1 billion but are often ignored in the world of fashion. There exists an enormous lack of representation for the disabled. Viewing models in wheelchairs with canes with other types of physical disabilities is rare in the fashion industry. ASOS, for example, only recently featured a model with a cochlear implant, which is laudable enough, but truly is the bare minimum. Besides, the huge issue of lack of clothing options for disabled individuals also keeps them behind other communities in terms of representing themselves. For instance, Nicola Lavin, a blogger, reportedly told Glamour magazine that her struggle with Lyme disease gets worse because she doesn't have enough clothing choices, leading to temperature irregularities and fluctuating weight gain. However, requesting clothes that account for this means that they will be "difficult to find" and "will often cost more in specialist shops." Wrapping Up- In a nutshell, the flaws in the fashion industry are huge, and it won't be possible to eradicate them overnight. Despite apparel brands showing their intentions and taking initiatives to reduce the differences existing in the industry, there is still a lot that needs to be done. And the clothes design software by iDesigniBuy is here to be at the service of apparel brands and help them fix these problems and flaws. It enables fashion companies to be committed to inclusivity and diversity in every aspect of the fashion industry. If you are willing to make a difference in the fashion industry, Connect with us now! |
One Stop Destination to get Product Design Software/Tools for any Personalized Product
Archives
July 2022
|