Anthropologie was founded on the values and principles of inclusiveness and cultural understanding. Every day, we strive to do better, to be better – to better serve our customer and our community.Discriminatory behaviour or bias, in any and every form and expression, has no place at Anthropologie. We reject racism. We stand with the Black community and believe that Black lives matter. We are deeply saddened and disturbed by reports of racial profiling in our stores, and we apologise, profusely and unequivocally, to any customer who was made to feel unwelcome.As a company, we are making impactful changes that address our commitment to the Black community. We are taking the following actions:
Our Promise to Our Community
UPDATED January 26, 2022
- We have integrated our D&I Foundations training – required for all associates, stores, and our corporate office – into the Onboarding Experience series. We have also created a video series which can be used as a refresher course for our hourly workforce.
- We have provided additional D&I training to all of our full-time regular Home Office employees and Field Senior Leaders through LinkedIn Learning. To help support behaviour change, we have updated the URBN Competencies with a specific focus on inclusion for use in our annual performance appraisal process.
- In the US, URBN has supported the growth of 8 ERGs across the company including URBNBLACK, AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander), LATINX, PRISM (LGTBQIA+), ADAPT (people with disabilities), URBN Jewish Community, Parents and Caregivers, and Wellness.
- We have continued to review our model selections process more closely, making adjustments where needed, to ensure they are more inclusive from both race and size perspectives.
- We have hired a Senior Manager of Social Impact and Sustainability, based in the US office, this role is fully dedicated to developing and implementing relevant programs for both internal associates and external customers.
- URBN has implemented regular postings of all roles on diversity-focused websites including Black in Fashion Council and HBCU alumni sites.
- With a focus on field candidates, URBN has showcased our unique employee population to attract a more diverse candidate pool on LinkedIn. URBN continues to build our partnership with United Negro College Fund.
- In the US, we have partnered with the non-profit She’s the First to support women’s education, and advocate for girls’ rights on a global scale.
- We designed SPARKED (Service, People First, Accountability, Resources, Kindness, Educate Each Other, Diversity & Inclusion) to create positive change in our stores and field team by bringing awareness to existing opportunities and implementing solutions.
We will continue to hold ourselves accountable and share our progress.
UPDATED January 15th, 2021
We are honoured to make a donation to the Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG), a global platform representing a collective of independent Black artists, makers, and designers at the top of their respective fields. The mission and spirit of BADG is critical to advancing creativity, and creating a more equitable environment for Black artists and designers. We look forward to supporting BADG-member artists and designers and providing ongoing reach and exposure that highlights their incredible talent.
UPDATED October 30th, 2020
- We have completed our initial Head Office training sessions, where employees came together to discuss the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. Each training reinforced a deeper, more nuanced understanding of unconscious bias, and the ways it can impact our working and shopping environments.
- As of today, URBN has raised over $1,025,000 for the following organizations:
- The United Negro College Fund
- The Innocence Project
- The Antiracist Research and Policy Center
- The Equal Justice Initiative
- Year Up
UPDATED 8 July, 2020
- We have hired an external third-party to conduct a comprehensive review of our store practices. We have a zero-tolerance policy regarding discrimination or racial profiling in any form.
- We have formed an internal, cross-functional Diversity & Inclusivity (D&I) Committee to develop an actionable strategy in partnership with our Executive Team and outside consultants.
- We will conduct mandatory D&I training for all store employees to be completed by July 30th. All Head Office teams will participate in similar training.
- We will expand our recruiting efforts at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
- We will increase representation of Black models, influencers, and brand partners.
- We are sponsoring a full four-year scholarship for a young Black student pursuing studies in fashion design. We hope that the first scholarship will be rewarded to an individual for the upcoming academic year. As a global fashion retailer, we embrace our position to empower the next generation of aspiring Black artists, designers, and creators. It is our duty to do so.
- We will help rebuild and grow businesses in Black communities.
- We are making a donation of $100,000 to the United Negro College Fund.
- In the US, we are making a 3:1 employee donation match to the following organisations:
- The United Negro College Fund
- The Innocence Project
- The Antiracist Research and Policy Center
- The Equal Justice Initiative
- Year Up
In Europe, we are making these additional commitments:
- We have made a donation to the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust. We are currently in discussions with the Trust on how we continue to support their mission via a long-term partnership.
- We have formed a cross-functional Shadow Board, made up by representatives from different areas and levels of Anthropologie Europe. This board will help shape and inform all areas of strategy.
We hold ourselves accountable and look forward to sharing our progress.
- We have integrated our D&I Foundations training – required for all associates, stores, and our corporate office – into the Onboarding Experience series. We have also created a video series which can be used as a refresher course for our hourly workforce.
- We have provided additional D&I training to all of our full-time regular Home Office employees and Field Senior Leaders through LinkedIn Learning. To help support behaviour change, we have updated the URBN Competencies with a specific focus on inclusion for use in our annual performance appraisal process.
- In the US, URBN has supported the growth of 8 ERGs across the company including URBNBLACK, AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander), LATINX, PRISM (LGTBQIA+), ADAPT (people with disabilities), URBN Jewish Community, Parents and Caregivers, and Wellness.
- We have continued to review our model selections process more closely, making adjustments where needed, to ensure they are more inclusive from both race and size perspectives.
- We have hired a Senior Manager of Social Impact and Sustainability, based in the US office, this role is fully dedicated to developing and implementing relevant programs for both internal associates and external customers.
- URBN has implemented regular postings of all roles on diversity-focused websites including Black in Fashion Council and HBCU alumni sites.
- With a focus on field candidates, URBN has showcased our unique employee population to attract a more diverse candidate pool on LinkedIn. URBN continues to build our partnership with United Negro College Fund.
- In the US, we have partnered with the non-profit She’s the First to support women’s education, and advocate for girls’ rights on a global scale.
- We designed SPARKED (Service, People First, Accountability, Resources, Kindness, Educate Each Other, Diversity & Inclusion) to create positive change in our stores and field team by bringing awareness to existing opportunities and implementing solutions.
We will continue to hold ourselves accountable and share our progress.
UPDATED January 15th, 2021
We are honoured to make a donation to the Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG), a global platform representing a collective of independent Black artists, makers, and designers at the top of their respective fields. The mission and spirit of BADG is critical to advancing creativity, and creating a more equitable environment for Black artists and designers. We look forward to supporting BADG-member artists and designers and providing ongoing reach and exposure that highlights their incredible talent.
UPDATED October 30th, 2020
- We have completed our initial Head Office training sessions, where employees came together to discuss the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. Each training reinforced a deeper, more nuanced understanding of unconscious bias, and the ways it can impact our working and shopping environments.
- As of today, URBN has raised over $1,025,000 for the following organizations:
- The United Negro College Fund
- The Innocence Project
- The Antiracist Research and Policy Center
- The Equal Justice Initiative
- Year Up
UPDATED 8 July, 2020
- We have hired an external third-party to conduct a comprehensive review of our store practices. We have a zero-tolerance policy regarding discrimination or racial profiling in any form.
- We have formed an internal, cross-functional Diversity & Inclusivity (D&I) Committee to develop an actionable strategy in partnership with our Executive Team and outside consultants.
- We will conduct mandatory D&I training for all store employees to be completed by July 30th. All Head Office teams will participate in similar training.
- We will expand our recruiting efforts at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
- We will increase representation of Black models, influencers, and brand partners.
- We are sponsoring a full four-year scholarship for a young Black student pursuing studies in fashion design. We hope that the first scholarship will be rewarded to an individual for the upcoming academic year. As a global fashion retailer, we embrace our position to empower the next generation of aspiring Black artists, designers, and creators. It is our duty to do so.
- We will help rebuild and grow businesses in Black communities.
- We are making a donation of $100,000 to the United Negro College Fund.
- In the US, we are making a 3:1 employee donation match to the following organisations:
- The United Negro College Fund
- The Innocence Project
- The Antiracist Research and Policy Center
- The Equal Justice Initiative
- Year Up
In Europe, we are making these additional commitments:
- We have made a donation to the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust. We are currently in discussions with the Trust on how we continue to support their mission via a long-term partnership.
- We have formed a cross-functional Shadow Board, made up by representatives from different areas and levels of Anthropologie Europe. This board will help shape and inform all areas of strategy.
We hold ourselves accountable and look forward to sharing our progress.