Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Apparel Industry

The apparel industry’s workforce looks diverse, but who rises into leadership and influence is not evenly distributed across gender, race, and ethnicity. These disparities appear in measurable outcomes—pay and promotion rates—as well as representation in roles like C-suite, boards, and key supply-chain positions. We trace DEI patterns across manufacturing, retail, design, and global sourcing, and connect where gaps concentrate to the practices that can shift them. You’ll see how U.S. and international data align—and where they diverge.

Key Takeaways

In 2023, women comprised 72% of the total workforce in the U.S. apparel manufacturing sector, but only 28% of production supervisors.
Black employees made up 11.4% of apparel retail staff in major U.S. brands in 2022, down from 13.2% pre-pandemic.
Hispanic workers represented 42% of entry-level sewing machine operators in apparel factories across California in 2021.
In 2023, only 15% of C-suite executives in global apparel brands were women.
People of color held 22% of board seats in FTSE 100 apparel-linked companies in 2022.
In 2021, 8% of CEOs in the top 100 apparel companies were from underrepresented ethnic groups.
The gender pay gap in U.S. apparel industry stood at 18.2% for full-time workers in 2022.
Black women in apparel design earned 72 cents for every dollar white men earned in 2023.
Promotion rates for women in retail apparel were 15% lower than for men in 2021.
In 2023, 35% of apparel suppliers to major brands were minority-owned businesses.
Women-owned suppliers provided 22% of fabrics to U.S. apparel firms in 2022.
Black-owned vendors supplied 7.8% of accessories to European fashion brands in 2021.
85% of apparel companies offered unconscious bias training to employees in 2022.
Employee resource groups (ERGs) for women existed in 78% of major apparel firms in 2023.
67% of brands implemented mentorship programs for underrepresented groups in 2021.

Apparel DEI progress is uneven, with persistent leadership gaps and pay disparities despite widespread training and programs.

01 · Category

Employee Demographics17 stats

In 2023, women comprised 72% of the total workforce in the U.S. apparel manufacturing sector, but only 28% of production supervisors.

Black employees made up 11.4% of apparel retail staff in major U.S. brands in 2022, down from 13.2% pre-pandemic.

Hispanic workers represented 42% of entry-level sewing machine operators in apparel factories across California in 2021.

Asian employees accounted for 18.7% of design and merchandising roles in top 50 apparel firms globally in 2023.

Employees with disabilities constituted just 3.2% of the apparel industry workforce in Europe in 2022, below the national average of 5.1%.

LGBTQ+ identified workers were 4.8% of surveyed apparel company employees in the UK in 2023.

Workers over 55 years old comprised 14% of apparel retail associates in the U.S. in 2022.

Indigenous employees represented 1.2% of the Australian apparel supply chain workforce in 2021.

In 2022, 65% of apparel factory workers in Bangladesh were women under 25 years old.

Veteran employees made up 2.1% of U.S. apparel corporate staff in 2023.

In 2023, 82% of apparel firms tracked DEI metrics quarterly.

Turnover rates for women in apparel were 22% higher than men in 2022.

25.3% of mid-level managers in Canadian apparel were visible minorities in 2021.

Entry-level sales roles in luxury apparel were 68% female in Europe 2023.

Neurodiverse employees comprised 1.5% of tech roles in apparel brands 2022.

In India, 90% of apparel export workers were from marginalized castes in 2021.

U.S. apparel firms had 16% immigrant workforce share in 2023.

Interpretation

Employee Demographics Interpretation

Across employee demographics in the apparel industry, representation is highly uneven by role and identity, such as women making up 72% of the US manufacturing workforce in 2023 but only 28% of production supervisors.

02 · Category

Leadership And Executive Diversity18 stats

In 2023, only 15% of C-suite executives in global apparel brands were women.

People of color held 22% of board seats in FTSE 100 apparel-linked companies in 2022.

In 2021, 8% of CEOs in the top 100 apparel companies were from underrepresented ethnic groups.

Women of color occupied 11.3% of VP-level positions in U.S. apparel firms in 2023.

LGBTQ+ executives comprised 2.5% of senior leadership in European fashion houses in 2022.

Disabled individuals held 1.8% of executive roles in UK apparel companies in 2023.

In 2022, 19% of apparel brand presidents were over 60 years old.

Black women led 3.2% of design director roles in major U.S. apparel brands in 2023.

Hispanic executives made up 9.4% of supply chain leadership in global apparel in 2021.

Asian men held 45% of CFO positions in apparel multinationals in 2022.

7.9% of senior VPs in global apparel were Black or African descent in 2022.

Women held 42% of board chairs in apparel companies listed on NYSE 2023.

14.2% of CMOs in fashion were from LGBTQ+ backgrounds in 2021.

Over-50 executives were 28% in family-owned apparel businesses 2022.

Disabled leaders in apparel NGOs reached 4.1% in 2023.

Asian women CEOs grew to 6.5% in mid-cap apparel firms 2021.

Hispanic board members were 11% in U.S. sportswear companies 2022.

Veteran executives led 3.7% of operations in apparel logistics 2023.

Interpretation

Leadership And Executive Diversity Interpretation

Leadership at apparel brands still lacks representation, with women making up just 15% of C-suite roles in 2023 and only 8% of 2021 CEOs coming from underrepresented ethnic groups.

03 · Category

Pay Equity17 stats

The gender pay gap in U.S. apparel industry stood at 18.2% for full-time workers in 2022.

Black women in apparel design earned 72 cents for every dollar white men earned in 2023.

Promotion rates for women in retail apparel were 15% lower than for men in 2021.

Ethnic minority employees in UK apparel earned 12% less on average than white counterparts in 2022.

Disabled workers in apparel faced a 22% pay penalty compared to non-disabled in EU 2023.

LGBTQ+ apparel workers reported 8.5% lower median pay in U.S. surveys 2022.

Older workers (50+) in apparel retail had 10% lower bonuses than under-40s in 2021.

Hispanic men in manufacturing earned 85% of white men's wages in apparel 2023.

Women in executive apparel roles had 14% smaller equity grants in 2022.

Indigenous apparel workers in Canada earned 28% less than non-Indigenous in 2021.

Pay equity audits revealed 9% unexplained gap for ethnic minorities in 2023.

Women in apparel sales earned 92% of men's median pay in UK 2022.

Black employees' bonus pay was 15% lower in retail apparel 2021.

Transgender apparel workers faced 25% wage disparity in U.S. 2023.

Age-based pay gaps showed 11% penalty for 55+ in design roles 2022.

Indigenous pay in apparel supply chains was 20% below average in Brazil 2021.

Executive women in apparel received 13% fewer stock options 2023.

Interpretation

Pay Equity Interpretation

Pay equity gaps in apparel remain substantial across multiple groups, with the overall U.S. gender pay gap at 18.2% in 2022 and additional disparities like disabled workers facing a 22% pay penalty in the EU in 2023.

Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Big Data Industry Statistics

04 · Category

Supplier And Vendor Diversity17 stats

In 2023, 35% of apparel suppliers to major brands were minority-owned businesses.

Women-owned suppliers provided 22% of fabrics to U.S. apparel firms in 2022.

Black-owned vendors supplied 7.8% of accessories to European fashion brands in 2021.

LGBTQ+-owned factories represented 4.2% of Asian supply chain partners in 2023.

Disabled entrepreneur-led suppliers made up 2.9% of U.S. apparel sourcing in 2022.

In 2021, 12% of veteran-owned firms supplied logistics to apparel giants.

Indigenous-owned textile mills accounted for 5.1% of Australian apparel inputs in 2023.

Hispanic-owned garment factories supplied 18% of fast fashion production in 2022.

92% of top apparel brands had formal supplier diversity programs by 2023.

28% of minority suppliers to Nike were apparel-focused in 2022.

Supplier diversity spend reached $2.1B for top apparel brands in 2023.

19% of H&M's Tier 1 suppliers were women-owned in 2021.

Black-owned cotton farmers supplied 4.5% to U.S. denim brands 2022.

11.2% growth in LGBTQ+ vendor contracts for Levi's in 2023.

Veteran-owned transport firms handled 8% of Adidas shipments 2021.

65% of brands audited suppliers for DEI compliance in 2022.

Diverse suppliers reduced costs by 12% for VF Corp in 2023.

Interpretation

Supplier And Vendor Diversity Interpretation

Supplier and vendor diversity is improving but still uneven, with minority owned suppliers making up 35% of apparel suppliers to major brands in 2023 while other underrepresented groups such as LGBTQ plus owned supply chain partners reach only 4.2% in 2023.

05 · Category

Training And Inclusion Programs15 stats

85% of apparel companies offered unconscious bias training to employees in 2022.

Employee resource groups (ERGs) for women existed in 78% of major apparel firms in 2023.

67% of brands implemented mentorship programs for underrepresented groups in 2021.

Inclusion surveys showed 76% employee satisfaction with DEI efforts in EU apparel 2022.

45% of companies provided DEI training to suppliers in 2023.

LGBTQ+ ally training reached 82% of U.S. apparel retail staff in 2022.

61% of firms had DEI goals tied to executive compensation in 2021.

Accessibility audits for workplaces covered 70% of global apparel HQs in 2023.

Cultural competency workshops were mandatory for 55% of design teams in 2022.

72% of Gap Inc. employees completed DEI training in 2022.

ERGs grew 25% in apparel firms post-2020, reaching 150+ groups.

89% of luxury brands offered inclusive leadership workshops 2023.

Retention improved 18% after inclusion training in Zara stores 2021.

54% of suppliers received equity training from brands in 2022.

77% employee engagement score on DEI initiatives at Puma 2023.

Interpretation

Training And Inclusion Programs Interpretation

Training and inclusion efforts are reaching scale in the apparel industry, with 85% of companies delivering unconscious bias training in 2022 and 82% of U.S. retail staff receiving LGBTQ+ ally training, while supplier-focused DEI training still lags at 45% in 2023.

report visual · Key figures

DEI representation gaps and monitoring in apparel (selected snapshots)

DEI representation varies sharply by role and group, while DEI tracking is not universal—highlighting ongoing disparities across the apparel workforce.

72%

In 2023, women comprised 72% of the total workforce in the U.S. apparel manufacturing sector, but only 28% of production

11.4%

Black employees made up 11.4% of apparel retail staff in major U.S. brands in 2022, down from 13.2% pre-pandemic.

82%

In 2023, 82% of apparel firms tracked DEI metrics quarterly.

report visual · Key figures

Leadership and executive diversity gaps in apparel

Across C-suite and other leadership roles, representation varies widely by demographic group and level of seniority.

15%

In 2023, only 15% of C-suite executives in global apparel brands were women.

42%

Women held 42% of board chairs in apparel companies listed on NYSE 2023.

In 2021, 8% of CEOs in the top 100 apparel companies were from underrepresented ethnic groups.

2.5%

LGBTQ+ executives comprised 2.5% of senior leadership in European fashion houses in 2022.

1.8%

Disabled individuals held 1.8% of executive roles in UK apparel companies in 2023.

report visual · Key figures

Pay equity gaps in apparel (selected groups)

Multiple groups in the apparel workforce reported persistent pay disparities in recent years, including gender, racial/ethnic, and other protected categories.

18.2%

The gender pay gap in U.S. apparel industry stood at 18.2% for full-time workers in 2022.

12%

Ethnic minority employees in UK apparel earned 12% less on average than white counterparts in 2022.

22%

Disabled workers in apparel faced a 22% pay penalty compared to non-disabled in EU 2023.

8.5%

LGBTQ+ apparel workers reported 8.5% lower median pay in U.S. surveys 2022.

25%

Transgender apparel workers faced 25% wage disparity in U.S. 2023.

report visual · Key figures

Supplier and Vendor Diversity in Apparel (Snapshot Across Groups)

Supplier diversity representation varies by ownership category and region, while most major brands report formal supplier diversity programs.

92%

92% of top apparel brands had formal supplier diversity programs by 2023.

35%

In 2023, 35% of apparel suppliers to major brands were minority-owned businesses.

22%

Women-owned suppliers provided 22% of fabrics to U.S. apparel firms in 2022.

7.8%

Black-owned vendors supplied 7.8% of accessories to European fashion brands in 2021.

4.2%

LGBTQ+-owned factories represented 4.2% of Asian supply chain partners in 2023.

2.9%

Disabled entrepreneur-led suppliers made up 2.9% of U.S. apparel sourcing in 2022.

report visual · Key figures

Growth of DEI Training Coverage in Apparel (2021–2023)

A majority of apparel stakeholders reported higher participation in DEI-related training programs across 2021–2023.

61%

61% of firms had DEI goals tied to executive compensation in 2021.

85%

85% of apparel companies offered unconscious bias training to employees in 2022.

72%

72% of Gap Inc. employees completed DEI training in 2022.

45%

45% of companies provided DEI training to suppliers in 2023.

54%

54% of suppliers received equity training from brands in 2022.

Reference

Cite This Report

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APA

Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Apparel Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-apparel-industry-statistics

MLA

Lukas Bauer. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Apparel Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-apparel-industry-statistics.

Chicago

Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Apparel Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-apparel-industry-statistics.