Vans is taking another step in the pursuit of racial and social equality.
The international footwear and apparel brand released details of the latest commitments on its website, vans.com/empower. Among them, doubling Black representation at Vans headquarters by 2025 and increasing BIPOC (black, Indigenous and people of color)representation at the director level. Currently, 21% of directors are BIPOC, and Vans wants to grow that figure to 25%.
While store associates reflect the diversity of different communities and customers, 61% of U.S. corporate office employees are white.
“We acknowledge that we have not been a strong ally nor spoken up on topics of racial and social justice,” the online statement reads. “Going forward, we commit to take action that always supports equity and justice for marginalized communities.”
“Over the past couple of months, our Vans family have been having some very honest and in-depth conversations focused on racial equality, inclusion and our responsibility to do more both internally and externally,” Vans Global Brand President Doug Palladini said in a LinkedIn post on Monday.
To accomplish the goals, the company plans to work closely with organizations such as The One Club and PENSOLE, historically Black colleges and universities as well as other student organizations promoting diversity. Additionally, Vans retail employees could soon see additional paths and increased awareness about ways of moving into corporate office jobs.
Vans is also aiming to have 50 percent BIPOC representation on its website and social media and 50 percent BIPOC artists and ambassadors in future global campaigns. By 2022, the company wants to have 30 percent BIPOC representation in global product collaborations and by 2024, 35 percent BIPOC athlete representation.
Other national and local measures include strengthening relationships with NAACP and Orange County Heritage Council among others.
Vans has previously joined the #StopHateForProfit Facebook boycott campaign, using ad dollars that would have gone to Facebook and Instagram in July to support Black empowerment and education programs and using retail windows to support Black Lives Matter.
