The Culture Is Black is a new quarterly three-part podcast series by CORQ, dedicated to helping our clients navigate the post-Black Lives Matter landscape through investigating the nuances of Black culture and how your brand can effectively play a positive role in the community.
To do this, our culture reporter Jennifer Adetoro has interviewed key influencers about how they believe 2020 alone has shaped the decade to come, insights on how their industries have been impacted and what they would like to see from brands in the future. In today’s episode, journalist Carlene Thomas-Bailey caught up with fashion blogger and body positive advocate Natalie Lee about the evolution of fashion, the rise of the blogging industry and power in talking about money.
You can listen to each episode on Spotify and Apple and if you have any questions or would like to discuss issues from the series, please contact our client services manager Arabella Johnson on arabella@corq.studio and we can facilitate a Q&A with Jennifer and producer of the show, Lucinda Diamond.
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KEY INSIGHTS FROM THE SECOND EPISODE:
- The fashion industry is constantly evolving and for Natalie, part of this – especially when it comes to representation – is down to the efforts of blogs and social media. Prior to the digital age, the momentum for change had been a real uphill battle due to the more traditional gatekeepers such as mainstream magazines but now, fashion is much more influential from the bottom up, rather than from the top down.
- She additionally noted that embracing these differences is not only important in terms of visual representation but a good start for brands in terms of growth. In fact, research shows that the more inclusive your businesses are, the more successful your brand is.
- In regards to the current #BlackLivesMatter movement, she hopes the momentum doesn’t die down and urges brands to amplify voices who have been overlooked. Especially Black founders who often find it hard to get investment and start a business much more so than their white counterpoints.
- Natalie is interested in changing the narrative of how we talk about money in the influencer industry. Creatives and freelancers in this space need to be able to assess whether or not they’re getting the right amount of money. There should be more transparency or an official guide on what they should be paid.
- She also added companies need to be held accountable for financial discrepancies and be honest. For example, when Natalie hosts her own events, she declares in the opening email exactly speakers will be getting paid and goes even further to address that each panelist will be receiving the same amount.
- To round off the episode, Natalie left us with some thoughts. She believes self-reflection during a period where many have been confronted with the realities of racial injustice is very important. It’s an opportunity for everyone to look at what part they’ve played so things can be unlearnt to help future generations as “being silent serves no one”.
Subscribe and listen to The Culture Is Black on Spotify and Apple.
