The Outsiders Perspective launch is set to change diversity in the fashion workplace
The Outsiders Perspective launch is set to change diversity in the fashion workplace
Jamie Gill, CEO turned Executive Director of ROKSANDA and Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Executive Board Director of the British Fashion Council, is launching his social enterprise The Outsiders Perspective on September 1 to combat the issue of low representation of People of Color (POC) on the operational side of fashion.
Two weeks prior to the launch, Nicholas Atteshlis, Brand Partnerships Lead for Zalando Designer, sat down with Jamie in London to discuss the inspiration behind The Outsiders Perspective and why brands should encourage diversity in their own midst in order to attract the next generation of consumers.
"Brands and businesses reacted [to the BLM movement] by setting up diversity and inclusion committees but little is being done in terms of immediate tangible change. That's where The Outsiders Perspective comes in."
Jamie Gill, Founder
Jamie reveals that when he first started out he felt like an outsider because of his non-linear career journey venturing from architecture over finance into fashion. Drawing inspiration from his own experience, he now wants to encourage people from underrepresented communities who have always wanted to work in fashion to join his training programme. "Diversity has always been something that is close to my heart, being from a British-Indian background and being gay as well. The Black Lives Matter movement really struck a cord with me," Jamie says. For him, it all starts with the team behind closed doors, which is deeply linked to how brands should approach their consumers.
Our consumers are so international and diverse and if you are not reflecting that in your teams, how are you speaking to them? This is really key for Gen Z for buying into authentic brands.
Jamie Gill, Founder
The focus of the project is to equip POC talents with the knowledge and skills needed to work in roles in marketing, merchandising, finance, human resources and/or digital, and subsequently matchmake them with fashion brands.
At Zalando, our vision is to be the Starting Point for Fashion - one that is welcoming to everyone. By partnering up with the The Outsiders Perspective, we want to highlight the importance of supporting POC talent in the fashion industry. Alongside us, The Outsiders Perspective is also supported by some of the biggest names in British designer fashion such as Burberry and the British Fashion Council as well as Karla Otto, Deloitte and the Mayor of London's office.
Learn more about The Outsiders Perspective.
Read more about Zalando's Do.BETTER strategy.
