Victoria’s Secret Reshapes DEI Stance: What Does This Mean for the Future of Diversity in the Fashion Industry?
- Soumya Sriram
- Mar 17
- 2 min read
Amidst the increasing pressure from conservative forces, challenging DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) measures, lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret has rebranded its original DEI initiatives to focus on “inclusion and belonging”.
Along with the rebrand, the company is reconsidering its supplier diversity goals and has halted its previous targets for promoting Black employees. These changes are sudden, considering their intense investment in DEI measures throughout the 2020s, which was done in response to their workplace harassment scandal, the backlash over the lack of body diversity in their models, and criticism over the objectification of women in their early branding and shows.
Just last October, Victoria’s Secret made its runway comeback after six years, and it came back with a major focus on accessibility, diversity, body-inclusivity, and empowerment. The company has been working hard to rebrand its controversial past – and it has been quite effective. Victoria’s Secret has positively transformed its brand image by extending sizing in highly desired styles and diversifying models through their “We Represent All Women” campaign in 2023. (2016 VS Angels on the left vs. 2023 “We Represent All Women” campaign on the right)
Thus, Victoria’s Secret's recent reevaluation of its DEI initiatives comes at a pivotal time for the company’s brand strategy. It illuminates many important company decisions for the retailer’s future: Should they continue DEI investments or draw back? How will drawing back impact our consumer base? Will it harm the immense progress we have just made?
These questions are not exclusive to Victoria’s Secret. Due to conservative pressure, many companies like Goldman Sachs, Warner Bros, Apple, and Costco have all reexamined their DEI policies/language and have come out with adjusted stances either reflecting a change or reaffirming their support.
Ultimately, Victoria’s Secret’s decision is just one of many. Reevaluating DEI will be of particular importance to the fashion industry due to its creative, vast, and unique nature. It is an industry hinged on celebrating artistry, diversity, and global influences, which makes DEI initiatives a crucial component to consider for companies in this industry. Moving forward, other fashion companies will have to decide upon the same choices Victoria’s Secret made. They must carefully navigate how to balance their mission, goals, and image with the dynamic political environment.
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Edited by: Jasmine Phou
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