1. MatchesFashion
At the beginning of this week, MatchesFashion announced plans to to launch a Black Employees Forum.
The new forum aims to drive diversity within designers in the business and look at how it can encourage more Black people to join the retailer.
MatchesFashion chief executive Ajay Kavan said the retailer has already started consulting with a number of Black colleagues.
2. H&M Group
H&M Group has pledged to donate $500,000 (£397,775) to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Color of Change, and the American Civil Liberties Union to help in the fight against racial injustice.
“We believe in equal rights for everyone. We stand with and support the Black community – today and every day,” the retail giant said on its Instagram account.
“We understand that this goes far beyond a social media post. We’ve learned the hard way how much work we still must do to live by the values we believe in.
“We’re committed to using our voice and influence to do our part and stand up against racism and discrimination.”
In 2018, H&M Group appointed Annie Wu to the role of global leader for diversity and inclusiveness in response to the global backlash it received from using a black child to advertise a hoodie with the slogan “coolest monkey in the jungle”.
3. Nike & Jordan
The sportswear giant pledged $40 million (£32 million) to support the Black community, and committed to investing in “organisations that put social justice, education, and addressing racial inequality in America at the centre of their work”.
The retailer and brand also posted a video to various channels entitled Don’t Do It, a twist on its trademark phrase Just Do It.
In addition to this, Michael Jordan and the Jordan Brand have pledged to donate $100 million (£79 million) over the next 10 years to organisations engaged in the fight for racial equality.
Be a part of the change. #JUMPMAN pic.twitter.com/wtxsv7Jhwg
— Jordan (@Jumpman23) May 29, 2020
Joint Statement from Michael Jordan & Jordan Brand regarding $100m donation. pic.twitter.com/yYXWh5eBZl
— Estee Portnoy (@esteep) June 5, 2020
4. PrettyLittleThing
PrettyLittleThing teamed up with rapper Saweetie for a second time for a collaboration where 100 per cent of profits will benefit the Black Lives Matter movement.
“PrettyLittleThing understand how important it is to speak up, step up and take action,” the retailer said in a statement online.
“We are committed to implementing positive change and giving a voice to our community. Therefore we will be donating all proceeds from this collection to Black Lives Matter.
“Because we know, we’re always stronger, together.”
5. Palace
Upmarket streetwear brand and retailer Palace has pledged $1 million (£793,000) to causes related to Black Lives Matter, with the initial funds going to The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust and Black Lives Matter itself.
The London-based business made the announcement via an anti-racism video on its Instagram page.
“Palace stand firmly with all protesters seeking justice against police brutality and racism,” it said in a statement.
Palace added: “This ain’t some band wagon s**t btw. It just took a hot minute to figure out. if I could drum up a mill by the end of the year. and work out what we’re going to do long-term.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBK9Tw2lF8v/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
6. Etsy
The craft and art ecommerce site announced on Instagram that donations of $500,000 (£396,000) will be made to the Equal Justice Initiative and $500,000 to Borealis Philanthropy’s Black-Led Movement Fund.
The online retailer said it would also match employee donations.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CA6PxWcA5Tx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
7. Amazon
The ecommerce giant said it would donate $10 million (£7.9 million) to several organizations, including the ACLU Foundation, the NAACP, the Equal Justice Initiative, the Brennan Center for Justice, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the National Urban League.
Amazon said it would ban US police forces from using its facial recognition software for a year in support of the #BlackLivesMatter protests, after activists highlighted how Amazon’s solidarity meant little if it continued its commercial partnerships with police forces across the US.
Amazon stands in solidarity with the Black community — we remain steadfast in our support for our employees, customers, partners, and the communities where they live and work. And we stand in support of organizations that are making a difference. https://t.co/r29sVMNosA pic.twitter.com/Jn9QIiS34g
— Amazon (@amazon) June 3, 2020
8. Asos
To support the Black Lives Matter movement, Asos told its 10.3 million Instagram followers that it would be “making a donation to a relevant organization”.
In its statement, the online fashion retailer also urged others to speak up against racism.
“Silence isn’t an option,” it said.
“We share the sorrow and outrage of the world over the grave injustice leading to the tragic loss of George Floyd’s life, along with Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade and so many other Black lives.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CA03i20BgkM/
Asos also pledged it would re-examine “every area” of the business.
“From leadership to recruitment. From training to mental health support. From charities we back to partners we collaborate with,” it stated.
“From brands we stock to businesses we invest in. From faces we feature to content we create.
“We will constantly listen, learn, push ourselves and, above all else, support our Black colleagues, customers and followers – and keep you informed along the way.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBEQgcEh5im/
9. Sainsburys
Sainsbury’s ex-chief executive Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover, who donated £10 million to set up the Museum of London, ordered a statue of slave trader Robert Milligan to be removed from outside the museum’s Docklands branch.
This made Sainsbury’s the target of a right-wing boycott, causing #BoycottSainsburys to trend across Twitter earlier this week.
The hashtag on social media then became mocked by anti-racist users in support of Sainsbury’s and #BuySainsburys was soon trending in response.
Many users joked that there would be better availability of online delivery slots now that racists have stopped shopping at the Big 4 grocer.
Coming in shopping after racists #BoycottSainsburys knowing now that the shops may not be as crowded as before be like: pic.twitter.com/g61CYXxzJT
— The Timeless Pop Culture Fan (Abandoned) (@PopCultureGuy12) June 10, 2020
Shopping in Sainsbury's knowing all the racists are no longer there #BoycottSainsburys pic.twitter.com/T5p1O2hYxl
— Miton (@mitongafur) June 10, 2020
The racist maggots tried to get #BoycottSainsburys trending on Twitter only to get it hijacked by the decent folk 😁👍🏼
I just bought some oatmeal cookies from there yesterday. They will taste EVEN better now the racists won't be shopping there any longer #BuySainsburys pic.twitter.com/Q29oooaWuk
— 𝓓𝓪𝓷𝓲 (@Feemy82) June 10, 2020
Racists are calling for people to #BoycottSainsburys
Go ahead, I'll start shopping there then #BuySainsburys pic.twitter.com/6XeJu6RV37
— Sam Kelley (@SamKelley_) June 10, 2020
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