Episode 1

Challenging Fashion Norms: Caryn Franklin Addresses Diversity and Inclusion

Published on: 1st March, 2024

Hi there, fashion enthusiasts! Welcome back to Just A Fashion Minute. I'm your host, David M. Watts, and I'm thrilled to bring you an exciting episode. Today, we have the incredible Caryn Franklin joining us as our guest, and trust me, the insights she shares are absolutely groundbreaking.

We dive into the increasing presence of luxury brands and their creative leads in the fashion industry, emphasising the importance of excitement, drama, and emotional sensation in fashion shows. We touch on the lack of diversity in senior creative roles in luxury corporations and Caryn's earliest fashion memories and career journey. She holds nothing back as she delves into topics of racism, white privilege, and the benefits of diversity in fashion teams.

As always, we have our Just A Fashion Minute News Round Up to keep you in the loop, so don't forget to subscribe on your podcasting app of choice. Happy listening!

Timestamps & Topics

01:31 NEWS Alessandro Michele potentially joining Fendi and the state of Fendi Womenswear; Menswear fashion talks, including quiet luxury, classic and heritage tailoring, avant-garde offerings, and impact of designers like JW Anderson and Olivier Rousteing; Highlighting of menswear brands, including Todd Snyder and S.S. Daley, with emphasis on their collections and creative directors

05:16 Discussion on the situation at Gucci following the exit of Alessandro Michele and the lukewarm reception of new creative director Sabato De Sarno’s collections; Recognition of British menswear brand Martine Rose and the lack of women, especially women of colour, in creative director roles in the fashion industry

09:41 Launch of a new beauty division by luxury group Richemont and the growth of the beauty industry, including celebrity brands and the luxe beauty market; Caryn Franklin recalls an incident where she unknowingly made a negative comment about her outfit over a mic at a fashion show; Caryn Franklin expresses her preference for sustainable and secondhand clothing, highlighting her reluctance to promote new fashion products

14:21 Caryn Franklin praises Safia Minney for her work in ethical fashion and promoting fair trade, particularly in Bangladesh; Caryn Franklin talks about her involvement in a documentary on predators in fashion and the objectification of women

19:06 Caryn Franklin discusses her earliest fashion memory, her career beginnings in fashion media, and her involvement in The Clothes Show, a groundbreaking fashion TV show; The show's high viewership and global reach, and Franklin's efforts to promote diverse body and beauty ideals in the fashion industry; Franklin faced rejection for her efforts to include models of different shapes, sizes, and ethnicities in fashion shoots and promotions

25:41 The conversation shifts to the lack of diversity in senior creative roles in luxury corporations and examples of cultural insensitivity from fashion brands, including Dolce and Gabbana's campaign in China and Prada's monkey charms, with their financial impact

32:16 Caryn Franklin highlights the benefits of diversity in creative teams, including better business efficacy and cognitive responses, and attributes the continuation of issues to laziness, lack of understanding, and the desire for a reassuring environment among creative teams; Caryn advises women in the fashion industry to learn and adapt to the rules of the game while emphasising the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership; Her background in psychology provides insights into bias, racism, and sexism based on cognitive psychology, with a focus on the need for familiarity and the dislike of the unknown; Caryn emphasises the potential for fashion to create a more inclusive, pro-social environment and normalise different types of beauty and ideas

35:56 The host expresses gratitude for the insights on inclusion and fashion, highlighting the rarity of such discussions; David M. Watts concludes the show and announces the topic for the next episode.

Guest Bio

Caryn Franklin is a renowned fashion commentator, journalist, and educator known for her influential work in the fashion industry. With a background in i-D magazine and Fashion Television, Caryn has been a prominent figure in shaping the discourse around fashion and culture. Her insightful commentary on style, diversity, and social issues has made her a respected voice in the industry. As a passionate advocate for inclusivity and sustainability in fashion, Caryn Franklin continues to inspire and educate audiences through her work.