Diversity at Gucci

Diversity, equity and inclusion defines Gucci.

For nearly 100 years, the House has leveraged and valued the beauty that diversity brings to the business. A tandem of cutting edge thought leadership from Marco Bizzarri and creative direction from Alessandro Michele allows Gucci’s values to be reflected in everything Gucci does every day. Under their guidance and vision, the organization has mapped a new journey of diversity and inclusion that also recognizes the value of its employees and is dedicated to enhancing the lives of those engaged in making its products as well as supporting underrepresented communities.

DIVERSITY AS STRATEGY
Our overarching target is to achieve gender parity at all levels within the company by 2025. We regularly monitor our performance towards the achievement of this goal. Gucci has also signed the “UN LGBT Business Conduct Standards”, the UN’s new standards for companies to protect the rights of LGBTI individuals. These include eliminating workplace discrimination, making sure business operations do not contribute to discrimination against customers, suppliers or members of the public, and working with business partners to address discriminatory practices up and down the supply chain. In 2018, 62% of our worldwide population, 58% of our managers and 65% of our retail managers were women.
To sustain and develop its long-term action plan to further cultural diversity and awareness, Gucci was the first luxury fashion brand to appoint a Global Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Renée Tirado, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion oversees all the activities related to creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace and increasing workforce diversity.

MULTI-CULTURAL DESIGN FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Gucci’s newly launched program cultivates new talent with diverse backgrounds. In partnership with 11 fashion schools around the world, this 12-month fast track program offers a learning experience for these underrepresented groups of talents with the aim to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace on an ongoing basis. Gucci’s Creative Director Alessandro Michele was personally involved in the selection process.
Gucci is empowering more diverse talent in North America to access the industry with the Gucci Changemakers Scholarship Fund that is available to college students across various disciplines with the ambition to work in fashion. The Changemakers Council helps select eligible students from schools across North America to participate in the program. Over the course of four years, each student can receive up to US$ 20,000 in grant funding toward completing their college education. The scholars also have the opportunity to participate in a Gucci mentorship program.
A parallel US$ 5 million Gucci Changemakers Impact Fund is in the process of being established in the Asia Pacific region.

GUCCI CHANGEMAKERS
The Changemakers program, initially launched internally in 2018, now includes a multi-year US $5 million North America Changemakers Impact Fund and a US $1.5 million scholarship program in North America, alongside a global employee-volunteering framework that will fuel the company’s commitment to creating lasting social impact in our communities and within the fashion industry. In January 2020 Gucci announced the first round of 16 recipients of the North America Changemakers Impact Fund, focused on improving opportunity and access for diverse people across a number of social impact initiatives, including leadership development in venture capital and technology entrepreneurship, fashion programs for underserved youth, and criminal justice reform. The next round of applications for the Gucci Changemakers Impact Fund will open in the Fall of 2020.
Chicago-based recipients of the Gucci North America Changemakers Impact Fund grants, youth organization After School Matters and non-profit course Braven—which helps students secure their dream job after college—met Gucci’s President and CEO Marco Bizzarri at the opening of the Chicago GucciPin store.

CHIME FOR CHANGE
A global campaign founded by Gucci in 2013 to convene, unite and strengthen the voices speaking out for gender equality. To date, the campaign has raised more than $15 million to support projects and advocacy in 89 countries. Through the funding of 430 projects with 156 partners, CHIME FOR CHANGE’s support has directly benefited more than 570,000 girls and women globally, and reached more than 3 million family and community members. CHIME FOR CHANGE Co-Founders Salma Hayek Pinault and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter have led the campaign with its coalition of partner organizations. Founding Partners include the Kering Foundation, Hearst Magazines, Facebook, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. CHIME FOR CHANGE aims to inspire participation in a collective community, bringing people together across borders and generations in the fight for equality.