A coalition of more than 400 Black editors, stylists, models and executives is set to address systematic racism and discrimination within the fashion and beauty industries when it launches next month.

Co-founded by Teen Vogue Editor-In-Chief Lindsay Peoples Wagner and publicist Sandrine Charles, the Black in Fashion Coalition wants to concentrate industry efforts to fight racism through actionable initiatives, moving beyond “cancel culture” to “accountability culture,” according to Peoples Wagner.

“We want to allow people to rise to the occasion of changing,” she said, with plans to work with large corporations, media companies, emerging brands and trade organisations such as The Council of Fashion Designers of America. “We want to partner with everyone”, added Charles.

The Black in Fashion coalition will ask organisations to pledge to work with them for at least 3 years, participating in a “Quality Index Score” by sharing internal information on factors such as employee representation. The score will make up an annual, public report card, with the first edition being released in June 2021.

Companies that choose to partner with the coalition will have the next 6 months to receive help from board members on finding programmes and initiatives, allowing for time to make changes before they submit data in January next year.

There are currently over 35 board members from across the fashion industry, all with differing specialisations. These include GQ Deputy Fashion Director Nikki Ogunnaike, Vice President of Brand and Culture Engagement at Gucci Antoine Phillips, KCD Director Tenique Bernard, IMG agent Ethan Miller, Cosmopolitan Beauty Director Julee Wilson, and Saks Fifth Avenue Vice President Jamillah Davis Hernandez.

The coalition will also publish a digital directory to aid corporations in finding Black talent to diversify their employee base.