// VF Corp reveals new series of initiatives to advance racial equity across its business
// The initiatives will affect how the company will hire, promote and pay workers
VF Corp is set to launch a series of initiatives to advance racial equity across its business, which will affect how the company will hire, promote and pay workers as well as intend to shift its culture.
Building on its previously launched Council to Advance Racial Equity (CARE), the parent company of Vans, The North Face, Timberland and Supreme said it will add a combination of actions and programs, community partners and public policy initiatives to address opportunity gaps.
The company aims to achieve 25 per cent representation among Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) within its director and above population by 2030.
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VF has since partnered with footwear design academy Pensole, who aims to provide students with the knowledge required to become professional footwear designers.
The collaboration will introduce ethnic minority students to VF’s Timberland, The North Face and Vans brands.
Students will participate in a masterclass where top performing students will earn the opportunity to participate in a year-long rotational apprenticeship at VF’s brand offices.
VF Corp also said it is committing to apply Mansfield Rule requirements, which is a recruitment benchmark originally developed for the legal industry.
The Mansfield Rule requires initial candidate slates to contain at least 50 per cent diverse candidates defined as women, ethnic minority, LGBTQ+ individuals and individuals with disabilities when hiring or promoting candidates.
By 2024, VF aims to assess and resolve any identified pay gaps for employees, sponsored athletes and influencers across the organisation through a pay equity analysis.
“We’re excited about our new partnership with Management Leadership for Tomorrow and its Black Equity at Work certification program as we take our support for social justice to the next level,” VF chairman, president and chief executive Steve Rendle said.
“At the same time, our partnership with Pensole directly aligns with our commitment to enable racial equity for marginalised communities with a specific focus on uplifting the Black and Brown communities, which have been traditionally underrepresented in the fashion and design space.”
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