For Zalando, the future is inclusive

Highlights of the Zalando Diversity and Inclusion Report 2023:

• Adaptive Fashion: New search filters allow for easy discovery of specific adaptive features. 430 Adaptive Fashion styles available in 2023, with expansion planned to Kids and Sports categories in 2024
• Inclusive content: Revised content guidelines and enablement sessions to reflect personal expression more authentically
• Gender representation: A focus topic both at leadership levels and within tech job families
• Disability inclusion: Clear roadmap for creating a more accessible workplace

BERLIN, 20 MARCH, 2024 // Zalando strives to be inclusive by design by bringing to life the diversity of its talents, leaders, customers and partners via its holistic Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) strategy do.BETTER. Firmly believing that fashion and lifestyle empower customers to express their true selves, Zalando describes last year’s progress in becoming welcoming to everyone in its fourth annual Diversity and Inclusion Report. Selected highlights in 2023 include the introduction of Adaptive Fashion search filters that help customers find adaptive products based on their needs, the launch of a new set of representative content guidelines for creative teams to celebrate what makes every individual unique and an internal Disability Inclusion Action Plan that will enable Zalando employees to create and enjoy a more accessible workplace.

Working with the disabled community

In 2023, customers were able to choose from more than 430 different adaptive styles, including from Zalando’s Private Labels and brand partners Tommy Hilfiger, Nike and Friendly Shoes. Based on customer feedback since the launch of its first Adaptive Fashion collections in 2022, Zalando made several improvements to the digital customer experience for Adaptive Fashion over the last year. This includes introduction of specific Adaptive Fashion search filters to facilitate browsing the assortment and highlighting key adaptive features (e.g. adjustable waist, magnetic closures, pull-up loops, one-handed zippers), as well as providing more detailed imagery and descriptions on the product detail pages.

Learnings from the disabled community were also applied to the design and functionality of new adaptive products. For instance, Ottobock, manufacturer of wheelchairs and prosthetics, invited members of their community to join the Zalando customer research panel for upcoming adaptive Private Label collections in new categories like Sports, Kids Footwear and Kids Textiles. These new collections will go live over the coming months in 2024, as a tangible outcome of such knowledge-sharing sessions.

Inclusive representation in practice

Whether it’s about creating inclusive visual content, guiding post-production or defining what products will not be allowed on the Zalando platform - in 2023 Zalando revised a set of content guidelines that ensure accurate representation of models and consumers in general. Relevant teams also received training on how to apply these guidance documents with confidence, enabling them to develop authentic, inclusive and appropriate Zalando campaigns. With the initial target timeline set for 2023, Zalando has extended its commitment to providing representative content that reflects and celebrates diversity to 2028.

Supporting women to advance their career in leadership and in tech

Zalando is renewing its commitment to a balanced gender representation in leadership positions and within tech job families. The company has not yet achieved the projected targets of a 40–60% corridor¹, due to the challenging economic environment and subsequent slowdown in hiring. Zalando abides by the importance of gender balance as it brings diversity of thought and experience and equips the teams to understand customers and partners better. Using learnings from the gender equity pilot programs, the company remains focused on driving this commitment forward. Based on the new women-in-tech strategy, the dedicated working group will focus on hiring & attraction, culture & engagement, and internal development.

Making disabled employees thrive at Zalando

In 2023, Zalando kicked off a specialised Disability Inclusion Action Plan, combining different measures aimed to overcome stigma and societal exclusion, creating an accessible workplace where everyone feels empowered to reach their full potential. The Action Plan consists of four pillars: workplace adjustments, leadership enablement, allyship, and improvements to accessibility.

Zalando is committed to ensuring that all employees receive equitable support, opportunities, and enablement on disability topics. One concrete example is the launch of a multimedia toolkit for team leaders and HR business partners to learn more about what different types of disabilities mean, their impact on and how they can support their disabled employees across Zalando. The company further continued to improve the accessibility of its offices, both in the physical and digital workspace.

Want to find out more about our other D&I commitments?

Download the full Zalando Diversity & Inclusion Report 2023 here or read the stories from employees across the company who demonstrate their passion and dedication to D&I through their work and projects.

¹ By setting a corridor for this target, Zalando aims to achieve a balanced representation of both women and men, hence a share of 40–60% for both genders. These commitments were written in the binary sense. However, Zalando’s dedication to D&I includes recognizing gender identity beyond the binary and taking an intersectional approach toward strategies and interventions.