WEBVTT - FIT President on Launching Social Justice Center 0:00:00.160 --> 0:00:04.160 This is Bloomberg Business Week with Carol Messer and Bloomberg 0:00:04.240 --> 0:00:09.039 Quick Takes Tim Stinovic on Bloomberg Radio. Let's shift gears 0:00:09.200 --> 0:00:12.280 no pun intended there. Fashion industry. It's massive, covers so 0:00:12.320 --> 0:00:15.440 many different segments from luxury to second hand, at leisure, 0:00:15.560 --> 0:00:18.720 subscription services, so much more. Tim I came across one 0:00:18.800 --> 0:00:21.720 estimate global fashion pegged at a five point one trillion 0:00:21.720 --> 0:00:24.439 dollar market. It's got to leverage also to move the 0:00:24.520 --> 0:00:27.200 needle on so many things, whether it's climate change or 0:00:27.240 --> 0:00:29.440 diversity inclusion. Yeah, that's what we want to talk about 0:00:29.440 --> 0:00:32.040 with Dr Joyce Brown, president of f i T also 0:00:32.120 --> 0:00:34.519 known as the Fashion Institute of Technology. She joins us 0:00:34.520 --> 0:00:36.440 on the phone from New York City. Dr Brown, how 0:00:36.440 --> 0:00:39.680 are you? I'm fine, Thank you. How are you? We're 0:00:39.680 --> 0:00:41.519 doing well. There's a lot we want to get to. 0:00:41.960 --> 0:00:44.760 Carol mentioned the fact that the fashion can move the needle, 0:00:44.840 --> 0:00:47.360 and we want to discuss the f i t S 0:00:47.400 --> 0:00:50.640 creation of the Social Justice Center. It's a higher education 0:00:50.640 --> 0:00:55.080 initiative that's established help increase opportunity and accelerate social equity 0:00:55.080 --> 0:01:00.000 transformation UM for the bipop communities within fashion and creative industries. UM. 0:01:00.080 --> 0:01:03.480 Let's start by just identifying the problem here, what was 0:01:03.680 --> 0:01:06.240 give us some numbers about how big of an issue 0:01:06.280 --> 0:01:10.399 this has been. Well, it's a it's a tremendous issue. 0:01:10.400 --> 0:01:16.440 When you think about the representation UH and diversification of 0:01:16.520 --> 0:01:20.759 leadership ranks in in the creative industries. You know, it's 0:01:20.840 --> 0:01:24.120 it's their lifestyle industries. It's more than just fashion. It 0:01:24.200 --> 0:01:28.720 really does affect you know, every aspect from advertising, marketing, 0:01:29.319 --> 0:01:34.039 you know, product development fashion. So when you take a 0:01:34.080 --> 0:01:37.680 look at the composite UM and you really try and 0:01:37.680 --> 0:01:41.640 and and estimate what the representation is and how that 0:01:41.720 --> 0:01:48.720 impacts UH productivity and product development. UM, there's a there's 0:01:48.760 --> 0:01:52.040 a long road ahead that really UH where a lot 0:01:52.080 --> 0:01:54.800 of improvements can be put into place, and we think 0:01:54.800 --> 0:01:57.320 that Social Justice Center will help us do that. Dr 0:01:57.360 --> 0:02:00.440 Brown help me out here. I think there is a 0:02:00.480 --> 0:02:04.080 perception or belief, you know, whether it's Silicon Valley where 0:02:04.080 --> 0:02:07.080 a lot of innovation disruption happens, or whether it's anything 0:02:07.080 --> 0:02:09.880 to do with the arts. Fashion included right, that it 0:02:09.919 --> 0:02:13.400 would be more inclusive and diverse from the get go, 0:02:13.720 --> 0:02:18.840 and yet it hasn't been. How come Well, you know, look, fashion, 0:02:18.919 --> 0:02:22.480 like everything else is a business. UH. You know and 0:02:22.480 --> 0:02:27.280 and I always say, creativity and talent is equally distributed 0:02:27.320 --> 0:02:32.000 in society, but opportunity isn't. So how does you know, 0:02:32.080 --> 0:02:36.560 how do you get to be the one that is recognized? 0:02:36.600 --> 0:02:38.840 How do you get to be a brand? You know 0:02:38.960 --> 0:02:45.000 that really does require and the infusion of of of money, 0:02:45.040 --> 0:02:50.520 of trust, of networking of contacts. So you know, I 0:02:50.560 --> 0:02:55.680 think everyone is struggling for the same kind of recognition 0:02:55.960 --> 0:03:00.519 and it's not every door is open and every opportunity 0:03:00.560 --> 0:03:05.239 is available. So you know, there are many many talented 0:03:06.160 --> 0:03:11.280 people who are you know, creatives, uh and and makers 0:03:11.480 --> 0:03:16.679 of fashion and other elements of design, and they don't 0:03:16.720 --> 0:03:19.560 get the recognition. Well, what about when it comes to 0:03:19.600 --> 0:03:22.320 the big companies that recruit from F I T and 0:03:22.560 --> 0:03:25.960 how you've been able to really get them to support 0:03:26.520 --> 0:03:29.760 the Social Justice Center? Companies like product s Acts, Ralph 0:03:29.840 --> 0:03:32.480 Lauren targeted more. Um, what are you hearing from them 0:03:32.520 --> 0:03:34.679 about what they want to see in terms of the 0:03:34.720 --> 0:03:40.160 next generation of leaders. You know, I've really been encouraged 0:03:40.200 --> 0:03:49.440 by the enthusiasm and goodwill that these companies have demonstrated. 0:03:49.520 --> 0:03:54.000 They've they've put their their money in, they've said they've 0:03:54.480 --> 0:03:58.960 appointed people within their companies to be leaders in this area, 0:03:59.560 --> 0:04:02.240 and we're most appreciative of that. But you know, at 0:04:02.240 --> 0:04:05.240 the end of the day, it's really good business. Um. 0:04:05.280 --> 0:04:09.040 You know, you when you look at what the impact 0:04:09.400 --> 0:04:12.760 is UM in terms of the buying power and the 0:04:12.800 --> 0:04:17.720 economic impact of people of color UH in in these 0:04:17.760 --> 0:04:21.960 creative industries. I think it was estimated in in twenty 0:04:22.160 --> 0:04:27.080 that the black community had an impact of one point 0:04:27.160 --> 0:04:32.479 six trillion dollars. So, you know, if we're honest and 0:04:32.560 --> 0:04:35.440 we look around at what's happening to the demographics in 0:04:35.440 --> 0:04:38.960 our society, it would be quite foolish not to pay 0:04:38.960 --> 0:04:44.799 attention to a growing and diversified market UM and So 0:04:45.440 --> 0:04:47.919 I think it's twofold. I mean, I think it's a 0:04:47.960 --> 0:04:54.240 partnership that benefits all that are engaging in it and 0:04:54.760 --> 0:04:58.120 UM and I think that's what we're seeing with the companies, 0:04:58.200 --> 0:05:01.280 And we're very grateful and appreciate tive and think they're 0:05:01.279 --> 0:05:06.080 going to make a tremendous difference by supporting scholarships, being 0:05:06.120 --> 0:05:10.680 open to the whole notion of internships for talented young people, 0:05:10.800 --> 0:05:15.159 for mentoring for the employees that they currently have in 0:05:15.200 --> 0:05:20.520 their practices. UM And you know, I I think there's 0:05:20.520 --> 0:05:24.200 a win in it at some element for for everyone 0:05:24.279 --> 0:05:27.040 that's engaged in it. Dr Brown, We have had guests 0:05:27.040 --> 0:05:30.120 on here that talk about the fashion industry and the 0:05:30.240 --> 0:05:33.720 impacts certainly on the climate and the environment. UH. You've 0:05:33.720 --> 0:05:36.280 probably seen the book about what it takes to make 0:05:36.320 --> 0:05:38.799 a pair of genes and the amount of water that's used. 0:05:39.720 --> 0:05:42.720 What's what are the conversations that the fashion industry are 0:05:42.760 --> 0:05:45.680 having when it comes to not only setting goals but 0:05:45.760 --> 0:05:51.040 really making sure that they attain them. There's a tremendous commitment. 0:05:51.279 --> 0:05:55.120 You know. Over time there's been a lot of conversation 0:05:55.200 --> 0:06:00.120 about sustainability and about the excesses UH and the of 0:06:00.200 --> 0:06:03.400 the of the fashion industry and the impact on the 0:06:03.440 --> 0:06:06.720 planet UM. And at one time it was looked at 0:06:06.760 --> 0:06:10.359 as if it was a business expense UM and it 0:06:10.600 --> 0:06:15.480 certainly does increase the cost of doing business. But at 0:06:15.520 --> 0:06:21.039 this point, the consumers have raised the consciousness so considerably 0:06:21.320 --> 0:06:27.440 about the importance of UH the practices of companies that 0:06:27.600 --> 0:06:29.880 it is really now just part of the cost of 0:06:29.960 --> 0:06:34.200 doing business UM. And there's lots of progress being made 0:06:34.279 --> 0:06:40.800 where companies are investing in waterless kinds of UM of 0:06:40.920 --> 0:06:44.599 practices where here at the college do. We have students 0:06:44.640 --> 0:06:48.760 who are very involved in what they call biodesign, and 0:06:48.800 --> 0:06:54.039 they are making textiles out of natural ingredients like pineapple 0:06:54.080 --> 0:06:57.080 and cambusha and my celium and various things that they 0:06:57.160 --> 0:07:01.680 do in the laboratories that that have strength and resilience, 0:07:01.680 --> 0:07:06.760 and the companies are are adopting in in their production. 0:07:06.960 --> 0:07:11.440 So it's very real and it's very important, and you know, 0:07:11.520 --> 0:07:14.320 when you deal with an educated consumer, you really do 0:07:14.480 --> 0:07:17.320 have to respond. I think it's very similar to what's 0:07:17.360 --> 0:07:23.480 happening with the requirement of a diversified leadership UH and 0:07:23.480 --> 0:07:27.680 and employee ranks. People are knowing what they want to 0:07:27.800 --> 0:07:31.600 see and and and how they want to judge the 0:07:31.640 --> 0:07:35.840 companies where they invest their funds. Hey, Dr Brown, what 0:07:35.880 --> 0:07:38.120 whenever we talked to an educator, I mean whenever talked 0:07:38.120 --> 0:07:40.600 to anyone, I should say, we asked about what things 0:07:40.600 --> 0:07:42.640 were like during the pandemic, what they've been like during 0:07:42.640 --> 0:07:45.840 the pandemic. But I wonder specifically for you and particularly 0:07:45.880 --> 0:07:48.800 for you the Fashion Institute of Technology, right, this is 0:07:49.000 --> 0:07:51.520 an industry that requires lots of hands on, hands on 0:07:51.640 --> 0:07:55.360 and in person experiences. How have you dealt with the 0:07:55.400 --> 0:07:57.880 pandemic and where are you right now in terms of 0:07:58.000 --> 0:08:00.480 education or students? There are they? Are they getting to 0:08:00.520 --> 0:08:05.040 be around each other? Well, it's interesting you ask, because 0:08:05.160 --> 0:08:09.320 yesterday was the first day of our spring semester, and 0:08:09.400 --> 0:08:12.920 yes we are opening in We opened in person. We 0:08:13.000 --> 0:08:17.040 actually delayed the opening until yesterday. We had come back 0:08:17.160 --> 0:08:20.640 for the fall semester UM and of course had to 0:08:20.640 --> 0:08:23.600 go back to remote right at the end when a 0:08:23.720 --> 0:08:27.520 macron was really surging in the city. But what I 0:08:27.560 --> 0:08:31.320 would say is that we where nothing is not resilient 0:08:31.760 --> 0:08:36.320 um and students, particularly so the faculty. We made big 0:08:36.320 --> 0:08:41.000 investments in technology that allowed faculty to go remote. You know. 0:08:41.080 --> 0:08:45.600 It's uh. We have done strategic planning looking at what 0:08:45.760 --> 0:08:49.280 the future, what the response of education should be to 0:08:49.400 --> 0:08:53.040 future changes, and we thought we had anticipated what would 0:08:53.040 --> 0:08:56.760 happen in another ten years, and it all happened in 0:08:56.880 --> 0:08:59.840 March of and we were there from the deep end 0:08:59.880 --> 0:09:01.720 of the pool trying to figure out how we were 0:09:01.720 --> 0:09:06.040 going to stay float and and educate the students who 0:09:06.040 --> 0:09:08.960 had come to us for that, and we did. We 0:09:09.040 --> 0:09:12.480 did pretty well. I think it was difficult for our 0:09:12.679 --> 0:09:15.920 art and design students. The business students did a little better, 0:09:16.360 --> 0:09:20.360 but the art and design. Students need that tactile uh 0:09:20.440 --> 0:09:25.480 in person, you know, draping and touching, and of course 0:09:26.520 --> 0:09:31.320 learning the software and the new advances of technology that 0:09:31.440 --> 0:09:36.360 really do so infiltrate and infuse fashion today. But all 0:09:36.400 --> 0:09:39.760 in all, we did not lose that. You know, many 0:09:39.840 --> 0:09:42.280 students we have, you know, their colleges all over this 0:09:42.400 --> 0:09:47.560 country that are you know, bemoaning the loss of of 0:09:47.640 --> 0:09:51.880 their student body. We did not lose that much. The 0:09:52.000 --> 0:09:55.920 students are very there's amused sitting on their shoulder and 0:09:55.960 --> 0:09:58.560 they and they need to answer it. And they've come 0:09:58.600 --> 0:10:01.480 back and they're are anxious to be together in the 0:10:01.520 --> 0:10:06.440 studios with their faculty, and you know, I'm I'm quite 0:10:06.480 --> 0:10:10.320 hopeful that we will have a good spring semester and 0:10:11.000 --> 0:10:14.640 you know they will be able to deliver on um 0:10:14.960 --> 0:10:20.240 the promise that's their talent creates. Although you know, it's 0:10:20.240 --> 0:10:22.520 also interesting when you look at their artwork, you know, 0:10:22.559 --> 0:10:25.760 the pandemic is very much reflected in what that experience 0:10:25.880 --> 0:10:27.800 was like bad I bet it's coming out right and 0:10:27.840 --> 0:10:31.560 their their innovations and designs. Um, We're gonna leave it there. 0:10:31.600 --> 0:10:34.040 Dr Joyce Brown, thank you so much, really appreciate it. 0:10:34.080 --> 0:10:36.800 President of f I T on the phone in New 0:10:36.880 --> 0:10:37.880 York City,