Our Commitments
Our path to broadening opportunity and building belonging is organized across four areas of work. Within each of these, we have set commitments with supporting initiatives.
We commit to continuing to create opportunities for full participation by all associates, including those from underrepresented and minority backgrounds by a comprehensive review and refinement of our talent process. We will use the power of our business to drive change by working with organizations, brands and makers from underrepresented backgrounds.
Initiatives That Support Our Commitment:
HRC Corporate Equality Index
For the third year running, we are proud to have scored 100 percent on the HRC Corporate Equality Index for 2021, which recognizes Madewell as a best place to work for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Black in Fashion Council
We have joined the Black in Fashion Council (BIFC), which is committed to representing and securing the advancement of Black individuals in the fashion and beauty industry. We are committed to working with the BIFC as we move forward to create space and opportunity within our industry.
15 Percent Pledge
We have committed to the 15 Percent Pledge across both our J.Crew and Madewell brands. The pledge ensures a minimum of 15 percent of our third-party vendors are Black-owned businesses. At Madewell, we are committed to creating space for these brands through our Labels We Love program.
Investment in Partner Organizations
We have continued to build on our support of the Coalition of Communities of Color, the NAACP, ACLU and AAPI Women Lead, and work to cultivate meaningful relationships with these and other organizations.
Investment in Civic Process | Our Election Day Initiative
On Election Day 2020, we closed our retail stores, distribution centers, customer contact center and corporate offices to provide time for all associates to exercise their right to vote. As part of our partnership with the ACLU, we also donated at least $750,000, funded by sales of the Madewell Vote Collection, to support their mission to ensure equality in our country and combat issues that disproportionally affect Black Americans, like voting rights.
Hometown Heroes Collective Program
Within our Madewell brand, we have created the Hometown Heroes Collective program, within which we’re committed to amplifying our values around diversity and inclusion. With that, we’ll ensure that each group of Hometown Heroes consists of at least 40 percent BIPOC makers, 20 percent of those who identify as Black.