Workplace & Talent / The Future of Work

In a year defined by election-year upheaval, muted advocacy, the rapid dissolution of diversity programmes, and ongoing AI disruption, settling on hybrid work arrangements was one of the few areas where fashion firms found stability.

Fashion companies rely heavily on part-time associates to respond to a volatile industry where demand is often seasonal and margins are thin — but many drop the ball when it comes to making the job rewarding.

As artificial intelligence continues to shape the fashion industry and its output, BoF Careers explores what AI’s advanced capabilities mean for the fashion workplace — and how the workforce could adapt to gain competitive advantage.

In 2020, like many companies, the $50 billion yoga apparel brand created a new department to improve internal diversity and inclusion, and to create a more equitable playing field for minorities. In interviews with BoF, 14 current and former employees said things only got worse.

From wage hikes to tuition assistance, fashion firms say they’re pulling out all the stops to revamp the store associate role — but their efforts aren’t taking hold.

Last year’s harsh pandemic restrictions and recent raids on foreign firms have made it harder for Western fashion companies to persuade top international talent to move to the country.

Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts were already losing momentum before the Supreme Court weighed in. The ruling may accelerate the backslide, experts say.

High-end brands are counting on brick-and-mortar retail to deliver the sort of personalised shopping experiences that can’t be replicated online. But hiring and training employees to pull that off can be a challenge.