Gucci Announces Plan To ‘Embed Cultural Diversity’ Amid Blackface Controversy

Gucci is working so hard to redeem its image after their latest blackface controversy.

According to Complex, the label plans to rectify its apparent lack of diversity, and this was confirmed by Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri, who announced on Friday that the label will initiate a four, long-term goat that aims to improve cultural awareness within the fashion house.

And they include: Hiring global and regional directors for diversity and inclusion; setting up a multicultural design scholarship program; launching a diversity and inclusivity awareness program; and launching a global exchange program.

And this comes just a day after Gucci executives met with Dapper Dan, a Harlem designer who collaborated with the label. Dapper Dan spoke about the meeting via Instagram on Friday, revealing the label was presented with a set of demands.

“We had some of the best minds from the corporate world participating, and experts in inclusivity and accountability—90% people f color,” Day wrote. “They made great demands. It’s time for Gucci to answer.”

He added that once Gucci announced their intentions, he would host a town meeting in Harlem so that community members could discuss the proposed plan of action.
Now, Gucci has announced its plans, and the CEO Bizzarri thanked Dan for helping facilitate the meeting between the label and black business leaders.

“In the last days we have conducted a thorough review of the circumstances that led to this and have also engaged with all of our stakeholders, most especially our employees and leaders of the African American community, in order to determine immediate actions that will bring greater diversity to key functions in our corporate and regional offices […],” the CEO wrote. “I am particularly grateful to Dapper Dan for the role he has played in bringing community leaders together to offer us their counsel at this time. The initiatives we are announcing today represent the first phase of what will become a new systematic long-term plan of action to guarantee that diversity and inclusion are organic in everything we do.”