CFDA creates separate Black advisory board

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has created aseparate Black advisory board responsible for all CFDA efforts oninclusivity, diversity and equality, following its pledge in June to bring about"systemic change” within the fashion industry.

The strategic plans it states have been outlined to create “pathways andprogramming to combat systemic racism and racial inequity in fashion” andto create more opportunities for Black talent in the industry.

“In June, we outlined specific initiatives with the goal of bringing anend to racial injustice in the fashion industry,” said Tom Ford, chairmanof the CFDA board of directors in a statement. “The organisation has put inplace a structure to execute this strategy and we are firmly committed tocreating systematic change in our industry that will empower the criticalvoices that need to be heard.”

The new CFDA Black advisory board will be led by CFDA president CaSandraDiggs, who was appointed to the role in August, afterserving as the CFDA's chief administrative and financial officer.

CFDA to support Black fashion talent with a new advisory board chairedby Tracy Reese

The board will be chaired by executive board vice chairwoman TracyReese. The CFDA states that the fashion designer was chosen as she leads“decision-making and vision in this important work”.

Joining her on the board will be Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief SamiraNasr, Netflix chief marketing officer Bozoma Saint John, Fashion TechConnects co-founder Stacie Henderson, and Martin Cooper, CFDA member andco-founder of The Punctilious Mr. P’s Place Cards Company.

“We are bringing together an impressive group of esteemed industrycolleagues to collectively help us build a framework for increaseddiversity, equity, and inclusion in fashion,” Diggs said.

In addition, the CFDA also announced that Bonnie Morrison will join theorganisation in a newly created role to “lead the strategy and execution ofCFDA equity program initiatives with the goal of building opportunities forBlack creatives and professionals in fashion”.

In her new role, Morrison will help support and execute new initiativesincluding the newly created CFDA task force and talent placement programmecreated for Black creatives and professionals in the American fashionindustry. Morrison, who recently founded the Morrison Strategy Partnersconsultancy, has previously held positions at Coach, Condé Nast, KCD, andPR Consulting.

CFDA chief executive, Steven Kolb added: “These fundamental changes tothe organisation allow us to bring important perspectives to the fashionindustry. They will play an instrumental role in our efforts to transformthe fashion system and make it more diverse, inclusive, and equitable.”

The CFDA first announced that it would combat systemic racism in thefashion industry in June, in response to the ongoing Black Lives Mattermovement, where it said it was formulating four initiatives, includingcreating an in-house employment programme and mentorship scheme for Blacktalent.

Image: pictured Tracy Reece and Bonnie Morrison via CFDA website