Planning a Fashion Fair That Puts Diversity First

Fashion fairs are a harmonious occasion, with brands and shoppers of all breeds sharing their love of creative clothing under one roof. This opportunity to be a part of such an exciting meeting of lifestyles, cultures and aesthetics – especially if you’re organising the event – is a privilege indeed. But as we enter 2018, diversity is now no longer part of the conversation, but rather the context that surrounds every conversation we have – not least in the fashion world.

So, if you’re looking to launch a new fashion-focused event and want to make sure diversity’s always on the menu, in this post, abaya and hijab retailer AbayaButh is exploring how organisers can make their fair a truly inclusive experience for exhibiting brands and attending shoppers alike.

Put the planet first

Fairtrade, sustainable and ethical clothing brands are dominating the fashion world – from the high street to the runway – thanks in part to Stella McCartney’s championing of this wider movement. With this in mind, when planning your own fashion fair, the eco-friendly element should be a priority rather than an afterthought. From designers who pay their employees a fair wage to those who boycott chemicals, animal products and man-made waste, there are all kinds of criteria that make for a planet-friendly fashion brand – and no diversity-first guestlist is complete without these environmental pioneers.

Lose the age limits

In your mission to mastermind a truly diverse fashion event, one important step is to ditch age restrictions and offer everything from high-end childrenswear to luxurious clothing lines for Generation Z, Y, X and beyond. By committing to removing all kinds of boundaries and labels, you can show attendees that your brand sincerely prioritises diversity above all else – and this means expanding your scope from the typical 18 to 35 market that so many events fail to see past.

Make room for multiculturalism

Finally, and crucially, cultural diversity is non-negotiable when it comes to organising a fashion fair for the ages. The clothes we wear are, in many ways, influenced by the lives we lead, the communities we’re a part of and the traditions we observe – meaning a vibrant and varied fashion-focused event must, at its core, celebrate a number of vibrant and varied cultures.

Whether you’re creating an ethnocultural melting pot, bringing together a complementary clash of timeless, traditional fashion and edgy, alternative clothing lines, or simply guaranteeing a broad spectrum of price points to suit all lifestyles and budgets, multiculturalism is a key part of what makes the fashion world so fascinating. Make sure your event provides this kind of colourful, complementary and multidimensional experience and you’ll be well on your way to a diversity-first fashion fair.

With all bases covered, you can say goodbye to the tired, outdated fashion fairs of the past and hello to true inclusivity. Fashions may fade, but diversity is forever.