Fashion

Genderless Fashion: Inclusivity in the Apparel Industry

Genderless fashion

We were so excited to see genderless fashion make an appearance at New York Fashion Week 2022 as it shines a new light on inclusivity in the apparel industry.

Gender-fluid brands are taking great strides to make the apparel industry more inclusive. By creating apparel for all people, despite gender identity, these brands are providing options that better suit and represent their employees and customers. You can check out a few of the amazing gender-fluid collections at TomBoyX, Sans Gêne, ClHu, and The Phluid Project.

According to GET Phluid, an across-industry leader in corporate education, companies with long-term commitments to LGBTQIA+ inclusiveness outperform others in their sector. Not only is more representation better for employees and customers, but it has clear benefits for companies including improved financial performance, stronger innovation, less attrition, and a more engaged workforce.

Also according to GET Fluid, 77% of Generation Z claims that a company’s diversity and inclusion policies are a determining factor for their choice of employer. Moreover, Gen Z and millennials will soon make up the majority of the workforce and are deeply passionate about inclusion.

Vans sets a great example for cultivating inclusivity in the workplace. In 2022, Vans donated $200,000 to three organizations that are all dedicated to uplifting the voices of the LGBQIA+ community. The brand also empowered three artists of the community to express their individuality through their own artistic collections that can be seen here.

Check out these resources that can help you to best cultivate inclusive hiring practices, educate your team, and offer support to organizations who uplift underrepresented communities.

Our team provides recruiting, HR, and employer branding support to help your team achieve a positive and inclusive company culture. Connect with us here or at info@emergingblue.com.

Now Hiring: eCommerce Product Manager

Emerging Blue Digital Jobs

We’re excited to kickoff the search for an eCommerce Product Manager with our newest client in womenswear. This is a great opportunity to help grow and develop the eCommerce platform of a very popular, woman-owned apparel brand best known for their feminine, yet sophisticated style and vibrant colors and prints.

Salary range: $100-130k.

Now Hiring: Account Executive

Great news! Mizzen+Main is expanding their wholesale executive team. We’re searching for a Wholesale Account Executive drive market growth of this impressive premium-performance menswear brand in the NE & Midwest. Learn more about the role here.

Know someone who may be a great fit? Check out our Referral Bonus Program.

Client Spotlight: THE GREAT.

Emerging Blue THE GREAT

We are fortunate to partner with some of the most innovative, inspired brands in the fashion, home, and beauty industries. Before we can begin to find the most authentically fit talent for our clients, we value the time it takes for us to learn the backbone of the brand and to gain a full appreciation of the story behind it.

Recently, our team had the incredible opportunity to speak with friends, business partners, and visionary storytellers, Emily Current and Meritt Elliott. For over 20 years, the duo has continued to be inspired, taken risks, and grown the business together. This is the story of how they came to build their fully realized women’s lifestyle collection, THE GREAT.

THE GREAT Emerging Blue

Both undergraduates at UCLA and lovers of classic Americana style who shared an appreciation for vintage denim and denim culture, Emily and Meritt bonded quickly. Their creative partnership led them to a career of dressing red-carpet celebrities, styling editorials, art directing advertising campaigns, and in 2008, launching CURRENT/ELLIOTT, their vintage-inspired apparel brand that was later sold in 2012.

Over the next several years, both women worked with Kate Spade New York, became members of the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), entered the home arena with PB Teen, and launched their own coffee table book, ‘A Denim Story: Inspirations From Bellbottoms to Boyfriends,’ which is now on its third reprint.

This unwavering bond has continued to lead Emily and Meritt on many creative adventures together, one of which we are thrilled to be a part of. We’re teaming up with this inspirational dynamic duo as they embark on one of their notably greatest achievements since 2015, their women’s lifestyle brand known as THE GREAT.

Inspired by timeless Americana style, THE GREAT. offers a collection of elevated, stylish, and high-quality pieces. Rooted in classic fit, care, and quality products, owners and leaders Emily and Meritt continue to manage all creative direction and design to celebrate and innovate dressing their customers for their most authentic and joyful moments of their life.

Emily and Meritt lead by example with their commitment to creating a collaborative, upbeat, and transparent workplace for their employees. Encouraged by a strong work-life balance, the team at THE GREAT. believes in working smarter not harder.

With four retail stores and a huge growth trajectory generated in authenticity and word-of-mouth, THE GREAT. is available in over 200 of the world’s most premier retailers and has plans to grow its omnichannel its foot print over the next couple of years.

THE GREAT Emerging Blue Spotlight

We’re thrilled to partner with this incredibly hard-working team as they bring a unique flare to classic Americana style all while creating a workplace that prioritizes the health, happiness, and productivity of their employees.

 If you’re interested in joining their team of visionaries, check out the jobs we’re working on for THE GREAT.

Client Spotlight: 7 For All Mankind

Inspired by innovative denim and united by community, 7 For All Mankind ‘was the first company to bring premium denim to scale, putting L.A. on the map as the fashion authority of the west coast staple.’

Since their start in 2000, 7 For all Mankind, also often referred to as Sevens, has remained a key player in the premium denim industry. We’re excited to partner with their team as they continue to drive change in the world of sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and as they continue to ask the important question, “how can we do better?”.

Emerging Blue 7 For All Mankind

Better For All Mankind

With the belief that every person should have 7 pairs of denim, one for each day of the week, they also believe that sustainability should be a way of life. Sevens has kept their focus on three areas of improvement: materials, manufacturing, and of course, mankind. Their sustainable choices are rooted in their materials. Their team prides themselves on their commitment to source responsible materials from around the world, including recycled yarns, hemp, and more. When it comes to their manufacturing processes, they work with their supply chain partners to best reduce emissions, energy, and water usage. Lastly and potentially their most notable commitment is to their people, to mankind.

https://www.7forallmankind.com/sustainability-page

Commitment For All Mankind

A favorite among celebrities, fashion editors and stylists, 7 For All Mankind’s denim has become a closet staple for many around the world. Their success, however, can be attributed to more than just their innovative style and fit. 7 For All Mankind’s commitment to social responsibility and goal of making continuous progress towards fair wages and better working conditions is what separates them in the industry. With a belief that people are what make them successful, 7 For All Mankind has a robust social compliance program, built upon their corporate code of conduct, that is dedicated to ensure that their workers, across all aspects of the supply chain, have ‘fair working conditions, are treated with respect and dignity, and are working in safe and secure environments.’

In 2019, 7 For All Mankind joined over 100 other apparel and footwear brands and signed the American Apparel & Footwear Association’s Responsible Recruitment Pledge to ‘address the risk of forced labor in the supply chain.’ In honor of the pledge, 7 For All Mankind has partnered with their global supply chain to create conditions that ensure that ‘no workers pay for their job, they retain control of their travel documents with full freedom of movement, and all workers are informed of the basic terms of their employment before leaving home.’

The Future For All Mankind

We are excited to partner with a company that is as passionate about sustainability and corporate social responsibility as 7 For All Mankind. With over 100 retail locations worldwide, a robust eCommerce business, and availability in luxury and high-end retailers across the globe, 7 For All Mankind is paving the way for sustainable and social responsibility in the fashion supply chain. As they continue their journey and innovations, we’re excited to support the growth of their team. If you’re excited about 7 For All Mankind’s mission and share a similar passion, check out the job opportunities with 7FAM here.

Now Hiring: Activewear brand in Carlsbad

Emerging Blue Hiring Planner Jobs

Our client, a premium performance apparel brand, is growing their team in Carlsbad, CA! These are great opportunities to join an exciting brand that is strong in their commitment to sustainability, community, and breaking down boundaries in today’s activewear industry.

Click the links below to learn more and to apply.

Senior Director of Planning

Inventory Planner

Merchandise Planner

Falling for these Fashion Jobs

New York Fashion Week Fall '22

Emerging Blue NY Fashion Week Blog

Last week was a busy one for our clients, particularly for those who attended Manhattan’s semi-annual New York Fashion Week. This year’s events showcased a combination of both new and returning trends, including florals, bright yellows and pastels paired with brown, blazers, bustiers, boldly belted waists, and more. We loved watching the spotlight hit new brands who are focused on creating gender-neutral and size-inclusive fashion, like Private Policy, Eckhaus Latta, and Ester Manas. It was also an immense pleasure to support our client, 7 For All Mankind, as they made their first ever debut at NY Fashion Week.

More on NYFW Fall ‘22 at the links below.

https://www.vogue.com/article/nyfw-trends-fall-2022

https://fashionista.com/2022/02/new-york-fashion-week-fall-2022-trends

https://hypebeast.com/2021/9/new-york-fashion-week-spring-summer-2022-trends-gender-unisex

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/09/style/ester-manas-paris-fashion-week.html

Now Hiring: Apparel Technical Designer & Merchandise Planner

Emerging Blue Jobs Austin TX

A growing men’s outdoor apparel brand is looking for an Apparel Technical Designer & a Merchandise Planner to join their team at their awesome headquarters in Austin, TX. These are great opportunities to join a brand with an unwavering sense of community and an appreciation for collaboration.

Learn more about these exciting opportunities here:

Apparel Technical Designer

Merchandise Planner