GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Clothing Industry Statistics

Majority of consumers favor brands prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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67% of consumers say that diversity influences their purchasing decisions

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70% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands committed to DEI efforts

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62% of consumers aged 18-34 prefer brands that demonstrate social responsibility, including DEI

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48% of consumers see "sustainable" and "inclusive" labels as equally important

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65% of fashion consumers say they are willing to pay more for inclusive brands

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60% of brands have experienced backlash due to insensitive marketing campaigns

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44% of fashion consumers are concerned about cultural appropriation in fashion

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72% of consumers say brands should be more transparent about their diversity efforts

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67% of young consumers say they prefer brands committed to social justice

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39% of consumers are willing to switch brands if they feel DEI statements are insincere

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60% of fashion consumers believe inclusivity is still a work in progress

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80% of millennial consumers prefer brands with strong DEI commitments

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69% of shoppers are more likely to purchase from brands that showcase diversity and inclusion

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54% of consumers say they are more likely to support brands with transparent supply chains that include diverse labor practices

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44% of fashion brands have reported actively working on diversity initiatives

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55% of fashion industry workers believe that diversity practices are improving

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30% of fashion brands have partnered with minority and LGBTQ+ designers

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41% of fashion companies are investing in diversity training programs

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29% of fashion brands have a designated team to advance racial equity

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38% of brands have made public commitments to diversity targets

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85% of fashion executives agree that DEI is essential for innovation

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Only 10% of fashion design schools have mandatory diversity and inclusion curricula

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74% of fashion brands have increased their investment in inclusive sizing in the past year

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71% of fashion industry executives agree that DEI impacts brand reputation positively

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50% of fashion brands say they track DEI metrics regularly

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57% of fashion brands have made public DEI commitments

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The fashion industry’s DEI initiatives increased by 34% from 2022 to 2023

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36% of fashion brands report having a diversity and inclusion budget

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61% of fashion industry leaders believe that intersectionality is crucial to DEI efforts

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38% of fashion companies have implemented zero-tolerance policies for discrimination

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The global plus-size clothing market is expected to reach $754 billion by 2026

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78% of multicultural consumers say inclusive marketing influences their brand loyalty

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81% of consumers say they are more loyal to brands that promote DEI

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Only 29% of fashion ad campaigns feature diverse models

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65% of minority consumers say they feel underrepresented in fashion marketing

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45% of fashion brands have implemented inclusive sizing

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52% of fashion students believe the industry is becoming more inclusive

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50% of fashion brands incorporate cultural symbolism with awareness

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Only 22% of fashion advertising features diverse age groups

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69% of fashion companies recognize the importance of black representation

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83% of fashion brands view inclusivity as a key to expanding their customer base

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45% of fashion design portfolios now feature diverse models and creators

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22% of fashion ads now feature plus-sized models

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49% of fashion brands believe that diversity has helped them connect better with global markets

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73% of consumers want greater representation of different ages in fashion advertising

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46% of fashion companies have started to include more LGBTQ+ models in campaigns

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44% of fashion consumers view inclusive marketing as a sign of authenticity

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Only 12% of fashion executives are women

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26% of fashion brands report having dedicated diversity and inclusion roles

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59% of employees in fashion industry believe their company could do more to promote diversity

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Only 15% of the fashion workforce is made up of disabled individuals

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80% of fashion supply chain workers in developing countries are women

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73% of fashion companies report that increasing diversity has improved employee morale

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58% of brands believe that diversity improves innovation and creativity

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29% of fashion industry jobs are held by ethnic minorities

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Key Highlights

67% of consumers say that diversity influences their purchasing decisions
Only 12% of fashion executives are women
44% of fashion brands have reported actively working on diversity initiatives
70% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands committed to DEI efforts
Only 29% of fashion ad campaigns feature diverse models
65% of minority consumers say they feel underrepresented in fashion marketing
55% of fashion industry workers believe that diversity practices are improving
The global plus-size clothing market is expected to reach $754 billion by 2026
45% of fashion brands have implemented inclusive sizing
78% of multicultural consumers say inclusive marketing influences their brand loyalty
26% of fashion brands report having dedicated diversity and inclusion roles
59% of employees in fashion industry believe their company could do more to promote diversity
62% of consumers aged 18-34 prefer brands that demonstrate social responsibility, including DEI

With nearly 70% of consumers saying that diversity influences their purchasing decisions, the fashion industry is racing to embrace inclusivity—yet critical gaps remain, from representation in advertising to equitable leadership, revealing both progress and urgent challenges in the fight for true diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Consumer Attitudes and Preferences

67% of consumers say that diversity influences their purchasing decisions
70% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands committed to DEI efforts
62% of consumers aged 18-34 prefer brands that demonstrate social responsibility, including DEI
48% of consumers see "sustainable" and "inclusive" labels as equally important
65% of fashion consumers say they are willing to pay more for inclusive brands
60% of brands have experienced backlash due to insensitive marketing campaigns
44% of fashion consumers are concerned about cultural appropriation in fashion
72% of consumers say brands should be more transparent about their diversity efforts
67% of young consumers say they prefer brands committed to social justice
39% of consumers are willing to switch brands if they feel DEI statements are insincere
60% of fashion consumers believe inclusivity is still a work in progress
80% of millennial consumers prefer brands with strong DEI commitments
69% of shoppers are more likely to purchase from brands that showcase diversity and inclusion
54% of consumers say they are more likely to support brands with transparent supply chains that include diverse labor practices

Consumer Attitudes and Preferences Interpretation

In an industry where the threads of consumer preference are woven tightly with diversity, equity, and inclusion, over two-thirds of shoppers now rally behind brands that embrace social responsibility—highlighting that in fashion, as in society, genuine inclusivity isn't just stylish, it's essential for survival.

Industry Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

44% of fashion brands have reported actively working on diversity initiatives
55% of fashion industry workers believe that diversity practices are improving
30% of fashion brands have partnered with minority and LGBTQ+ designers
41% of fashion companies are investing in diversity training programs
29% of fashion brands have a designated team to advance racial equity
38% of brands have made public commitments to diversity targets
85% of fashion executives agree that DEI is essential for innovation
Only 10% of fashion design schools have mandatory diversity and inclusion curricula
74% of fashion brands have increased their investment in inclusive sizing in the past year
71% of fashion industry executives agree that DEI impacts brand reputation positively
50% of fashion brands say they track DEI metrics regularly
57% of fashion brands have made public DEI commitments
The fashion industry’s DEI initiatives increased by 34% from 2022 to 2023
36% of fashion brands report having a diversity and inclusion budget
61% of fashion industry leaders believe that intersectionality is crucial to DEI efforts
38% of fashion companies have implemented zero-tolerance policies for discrimination

Industry Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Interpretation

While 55% of fashion industry workers see some progress in diversity, only 10% of design schools mandate inclusion curricula, revealing that the runway may be paving the way for change faster than the academy or many brands' policies—yet with 85% of executives recognizing DEI as vital for innovation, the industry’s stride towards true inclusion remains a runway walk with many steps still to take.

Market Trends and Consumer Loyalty

The global plus-size clothing market is expected to reach $754 billion by 2026
78% of multicultural consumers say inclusive marketing influences their brand loyalty
81% of consumers say they are more loyal to brands that promote DEI

Market Trends and Consumer Loyalty Interpretation

With the global plus-size market projected to hit $754 billion by 2026 and over three-quarters of multicultural consumers influenced by inclusive marketing, the clothing industry’s embrace of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion isn’t just morally right—it's a lucrative business strategy.

Representation and Marketing in Fashion

Only 29% of fashion ad campaigns feature diverse models
65% of minority consumers say they feel underrepresented in fashion marketing
45% of fashion brands have implemented inclusive sizing
52% of fashion students believe the industry is becoming more inclusive
50% of fashion brands incorporate cultural symbolism with awareness
Only 22% of fashion advertising features diverse age groups
69% of fashion companies recognize the importance of black representation
83% of fashion brands view inclusivity as a key to expanding their customer base
45% of fashion design portfolios now feature diverse models and creators
22% of fashion ads now feature plus-sized models
49% of fashion brands believe that diversity has helped them connect better with global markets
73% of consumers want greater representation of different ages in fashion advertising
46% of fashion companies have started to include more LGBTQ+ models in campaigns
44% of fashion consumers view inclusive marketing as a sign of authenticity

Representation and Marketing in Fashion Interpretation

While half of fashion brands acknowledge that embracing diversity and inclusion broadens their global appeal, only a fraction truly reflect that commitment on-screen, revealing that the industry’s strides toward authenticity still trail behind the words in its marketing runway.

Workforce Diversity and Career Insights

Only 12% of fashion executives are women
26% of fashion brands report having dedicated diversity and inclusion roles
59% of employees in fashion industry believe their company could do more to promote diversity
Only 15% of the fashion workforce is made up of disabled individuals
80% of fashion supply chain workers in developing countries are women
73% of fashion companies report that increasing diversity has improved employee morale
58% of brands believe that diversity improves innovation and creativity
29% of fashion industry jobs are held by ethnic minorities

Workforce Diversity and Career Insights Interpretation

Despite increasing awareness, the stark gender and racial disparities in the fashion industry reveal that true diversity and inclusion remain more aspirational than actual, with women and marginalized groups underrepresented while many companies acknowledge the potential benefits—like boosted innovation and morale—that genuine representation could bring.