“We are dedicated to addressing fashion’s barriers to entry by supporting new generations of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic talents” – according to a non-profit organization, Rubric Initiative.

This year, we have faced to many slogans of Black Lives Matter brought up by millions of people to fight against the racism and injustice. They demanded the equality and justice for the black people in the United States. Since then, many creative start-ups, including FIRII, a model agency based in Stockholm, Sweden – has presented the underrepresented black people in the model industry.

This month, another fashion campaign has been released to make a change in the fashion industry system – giving a chance for the young people of colour to grow in the fashion industry through a series of educational and financial programs, it is Rubric Initiative.

As mentioned in Consul, Rubric Initiative is an organisation dedicated to making change in the fashion industry by addressing its barriers to entry. It is working with leading industry figures to create educational resources and mentorship programmes, arranging outreach initiatives and paid internship placements, normalise paying interns, and by promoting transparent dialogues about race, class and gender in the creative fields.

— Some fashion leading figures that are supporting Rubric Initiative and the #RubricCommunity are: Kenya Hunt and Kevin McIntosh (left) and Virgil Abloh and Xu Meen (right). Source: Rubric Initiative in Consul —

Kenya Hunt, a fashion director of Grazia UK, said, “I’ve discovered with time that I learnt just as much from my mentees as they do for me. And as Toni Morrison famously said, i’ve learned that my real job is that ‘if you are free, you need to be free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.'”

Virgil Abloh, American creative director for French fashion brand Louis Vuitton said, “The inception of the idea is where systematic racism lives. Diversity and inclusion need to be at the root of the logic.”

Many leading fashion figures in the industry have supported the non-profit organization. The community of Rubric Initiative – #RubricCommunity (in alphabetical order), as stated in its official website are:… Virgil Abloh, Xu Meen, Adesuwa Aighewi, Agata Belcen, Agnes Llyod-Platt, Ahmad Swaid, Alexander Fury, Alice Casely-Hayford, Alastair McKimm, Alton Mason, Ama Quashi, Amber Pinkerton, Ammy Drammeh, Andre Walker, Avenahl Gallagher, Baba Diop, Backy Akinyode, Bolade Banjo, Brianna Capozzi, Campbell Addy, Carlos Nazzario, Chatlie Casely-Hayford, Cheikh Kebe, Chioma Nnadi, Crystabel Riley, Cindia Harvey, Dominic Cadogan, Donna Wallace, Elgar Johnson, Emi Kaneko, Emma Hope Allwood, Emma Wyman, Emmanuella Mensah, Francesca Burns, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, Hanna Kelifa, Hanna Moon, Hassan Rahim, Holly Cullen, Holly Shackleton, Isabela Hurley, Jack Davison, Jack Sunnucks, Jawara Wauchope, JD Ankomah, Jess Cole, Jessica Kanje, Joshua Woods, Juan Palacio, Julia Sarr-Jamois, Katie Grand, Katie Shillingford, Kenneth Ize, Kenya Hunt, Kevin McIntosh, Kim Jones, Lynettes Nylander, Marcus Cuffie, Martien Mbala, Martine Rose, Matt Holmes, Mischa Notcutt, Munroe Bergdorf, Nate Hinton, Nell Kalonji, Olivia Singer, Ottawa Kwami, Raphael Hirsch, Raven Smith, Richard Malone, Ronan McKenzie, Rosh Mahtani, Sami Janjer, Samuel Ross, Stella Greenspan, Supriya Lele, Susannah Frankel, Troy Fearn, Vaquera.

Statements from the Rubric Initiative Non-Profit Organization: Fashion is a historically homogenous industry – but we believe that the different perspectives introduced by different experiences only enhance the creative conversation. In 2020, people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds remain disproportionately underrepresented in our arena. To make a change, we need to speak to a new generation – those for whom the fashion industry often appears impenetrable. The financial pressures and racial disparities that exist within an industry with a high barrier to entry need to be addressed. Without making an active effort to encourage and support those who have long been marginalised, the status quo will remain the same. It’s time for change.

 

For more information about Rubric Initiative: Website www.rubric-initiative.com or consul-co.com/community/rubric-initiative – Instagram @rubricinitiative.

Source: The Rubric Initiative, a New Campaign to Diversify the Fashion Industry — Rubric Initiative Launches To Support Emerging Creatives of ColourRubric Initiative Launches To Support Emerging Creatives of Colour — About Rubric Initiative – Changing Fashion’s Future.