Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

Demonised by Trump, DEI Professionals Go ‘Discreet’ to Find Jobs

DEI workers are repositioning and rebranding to get contracts and retain remaining staff positions, distancing themselves from conversations around race and gender and instead prioritising their leadership expertise.

A group of four employees having a discussion while sitting at a desk. — In his first days in office, President Donald Trump signed executive orders aimed at pressuring corporations and other groups to end policies that constitute “illegal DEI discrimination,” (Pexels)

Bloomberg

05 May 2025

BoF PROFESSIONAL

On the website of diversity consultant BWG Business Solutions is a sentence that would have felt out of place five years ago, when companies were bragging about their DEI efforts: “Due to the increasing scrutiny and politicization of equity efforts, the public listing of clients and partnerships has been removed from this website.”

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Can Fashion Be Inclusive Without Saying ‘DEI’?

Brands, retailers and their employees are negotiating a new approach to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives for the Trump era — and that often means avoiding the term itself.

Op-Ed | Target’s DEI Flip-Flop Came at a Price

Early data indicates Target and Walmart’s store traffic has declined since their DEI exit, while Costco’s has grown, signalling that we may be entering a new era of consumer boycotts.

Victoria’s Secret Abandons DEI Goal for Focus on ‘Belonging’

Chief executive officer Hillary Super told workers in a recent memo that Victoria’s Secret will “ensure our global team is inclusive of a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.”

In This Article

Topics

Why Fashion’s Next Generation Is Rethinking College

Hefty tuition prices, unclear career pathways and new routes into the industry are reshaping how young people invest in education.

Jimmy Choo and Marissa Collections Are Hiring on BoF Careers

Check out this week’s new partners and openings on BoF Careers, the global marketplace for fashion and beauty talent.

How ESSEC Business School’s New Master’s Is Evolving Luxury Education

A pioneer in luxury education since 1991, French business school ESSEC has launched a new Master’s in Luxury Management — preparing students for the evolving luxury industry through a thorough academic and hands-on curriculum.

Can Sporty & Rich’s Emily Oberg Break the Founder-CEO Curse?

Oberg stepped into the top job at her startup last August. In an exclusive interview with The Business of Fashion, she explained how she plans to scale her business while sidestepping the ‘founder’s ego’ problem that has doomed many emerging brands.

Trump Signs Order to Combat Fraudulent ‘Made in America’ Labels, White House Says

The executive order directs ⁠the FTC chairman to prioritise enforcement of existing laws against sellers and manufacturers who falsely claim products are made in America.

Oil Market Set for Tumultuous Week as Kharg Attack Raises Stakes

Global oil markets face turmoil after a US attack on Iran's main export hub heightened risks to supply across the Middle East.

This Week: The Oscars Bring Red Carpet Season to a Close; Lululemon Adrift

The 98th Academy Awards, and Vanity Fair’s revamped after-party, bring luxury brands’ red-carpet strategies to a crescendo. Plus, Lululemon reports quarterly results with the CEO job still vacant.

The Season That Was: Signals From Fashion’s Front Lines

From the impact of the war in the Middle East to the future of Saks to the Kering conundrum, Imran Amed shares his intel and insight from the trenches of the latest ‘fashion month.’

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Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

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