CFDA Announces Initiatives to Fight Systemic Racism in Fashion Industry

The CFDA has outlined several initiatives targeted on making systemic change in light of the “deplorable acts of racism and violence that we have seen play out in our country over this past week,” as announced in a joint statement today by chairman Tom Ford and president and CEO Steven Kolb. It follows behind a string of similar announcements as brands, companies and people worldwide respond to the deaths of George Floyd — the African-American man who was killed while in police custody in Minneapolis last week — and others that have been killed by the police.

“Black people in this country are reeling from years of injustice stemming from institutional constructs such as slavery, segregation, mass incarceration, police brutality and economic and voter suppression,” the CFDA said. “The Black community is experiencing anger and frustration on top of the effects of the global pandemic that has hit communities of color the hardest.”

According to the statement, the CFDA held a board meeting on Tuesday to formulate various actions that the organization plans to take in order to “stand in solidarity with those who are discriminated against.” Among the initiatives, the organization plans to create an in-house employment program to aid Black talent, a mentorship program focused on Black students, and to begin immediately donating to organizations that benefit the Black community.

“Having a clear voice and speaking out against racial injustice, bigotry and hatred is the first step, but this is not enough,” the CFDA stated. “This is a deeply disturbing moment that speaks to us all…We must do something.”

Source: Hypebeast

FASHIONADO

PORTS 1961 SPRING SUMMER 2018 MENSWEAR

The spring-summer Ports 1961 menswear collection is a celebration of diversity, strength and optimism.

Fashion reflects the world around us. In a time of challenge, fear and disillusion, it is the creative person's role to try to deliver a message of love and hope.

For the past several seasons, Milan Vukmirovic has been exploring the urgency of love and the importance of fraternity, unity and solidarity.

Inspired by Jean Michel Basquiat’s work and personal style, African cool-setters and the hip-hop scene in New York in the early Eighties, Milan Vukmirovic presents an upbeat collection with a very positive message.

Brimming with color and meaning, this collection is a window that opens to the world and defends the richness of difference.

This season, Ports 1961 draws in equal measures on street culture, contemporary dress and local artisans. Embroidery and prints point to far horizons.

This collection is, in its own way, a message of solidarity for the Black Lives Matter movement that began in the street and on social media in 2012. The fight against violence and for justice for black people resonates today in an even wider, bigger way.

Now, more than ever, EVERY LIFE MATTERS. EVERY COLOR MATTERS. ONLY LOVE MATTERS.

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