Prada Group announces its DE&I Initiatives
On the May 13th of this year the Prada Group announced their 2021 initiative that would focus on “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” or DE&I. The group announced that they were looking to increase their commitment to these three aspects not only within the Prada Company but the whole fashion industry as well. This will be done through substantial investments in advancement programmers focused in talent and education.
As a way to increase the need for representation in the fashion industry, the Prada Group has partnered with the Fashion Institute of Technology, in order to develop scholarships that will focus on prospective fashion industry professionals as well as undergraduate students who are people of colour in not only the United States but Africa as well. The group will also work closely with the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency in order to produce and construct an “educational fashion module” that will focus on promoting gender equality in Africa. The module will initially launch in Ghana and Kenya, and will collaborate with Theaster Gates who holds the title of “Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Co-Chair, artist, social innovator, and founder of Rebuild Foundation”, this collaboration will focus on the creation of a design lab meant for diverse designers and artists that are located Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.
Prada will be offering a scholarship to diverse American students who are top level and are looking to pursue a career in fashion as well as top-level female students from Ghana and/or Kenya. These scholarships will ensure payment for all of the tuition fees and accommodation for relevant Associate of Applied Science and Bachelor’s Degree program. The individuals who receive the scholarship will gain a mentorship from leaders in the fashion industry and will have the potential to work at the Prada Group. Individuals interested in the opportunity will be able to enroll for the scholarships in autumn 2021.
Malika Savell, Prada North America’s Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, stated that “Prada Group is taking real and significant actions that will expand career and professional opportunities for people of colour in the fashion industry”
The Prada group has overall introduced four initiatives namely Generation Prada Internship, Prada Group FIT Scholarships, Prada Group UNFPA Education Module and Prada + Dorchester Industries Experimental Design Lab. This is an impressive collection of programs to help bring in more diversity and allow for young people of color to gain more opportunities to enter the fashion industry and showcase their talents and the changes that can bring.
By : Megan Maritz