Culture
Indigo Becomes First Canadian Retailer to Take the 15 Percent Pledge
The book and lifestyle retailer is dedicating 15 percent of its shelf space to BIPOC authors and brands.
by : Hannah Ziegler- Oct 22nd, 2020
Indigo Books & Music Inc. is officially the first major Canadian company to take the 15 Percent Pledge, dedicating 15 percent of its shelf space to books written by BIPOC authors and stocking BIPOC-owned third-party brands in its lifestyle department.
“As a native Canadian, I knew after launching the 15 Percent Pledge in the United States, we would also need to focus our efforts for increased representation and financial equality for BIPOC-owned businesses in Canada,” said Aurora James, founder of the 15 Percent Pledge and creator of Brother Vellies, in a press release. “We could not be happier that Indigo has stepped up and become Canada’s first major retailer to pledge its commitment. We commend Indigo for their early leadership and look forward to working with them on their accountability and commitment as we join together in the mission to support the BIPOC community.”
“We are pleased to be joining the 15 Percent Pledge,” said Indigo CEO Heather Reisman in a statement. “We are looking forward to further growing the number of brands and authors that we support through our platform and continue to look for opportunities to ensure that all Canadians see themselves in Indigo.”
According to Indigo’s Instagram, the retailer is aiming to have 15 percent of books on display written by BIPOC authors by the end of 2021, while aiming for 15 percent of lifestyle content by BIPOC brands in the next two to five years.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Indigo (@indigo) on
American retailers who have already taken the pledge since the initiative’s June inception include Sephora, West Elm and Yelp.
“As an avid childhood reader myself, I am over the moon to know that young BIPOC girls will now be able to wander into their favorite bookstores and see themselves represented on the shelves in a truly robust way,” James wrote on Instagram. “Publishing more Black authors will also begin the process of allowing the Black and BIPOC experience to truly be archived and properly written into history. This is about so much more than shelf space.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Aurora James 🦢 (@aurorajames) on
READ MORE:
How Canadian Retailers Plan to Make Their Shelves More Inclusive
This Interactive Index is Showcasing Black Designers in Canada
Black-Owned Canadian Beauty, Fashion, Health and Lifestyle Brands
Newsletter
Join our mailing list for the latest and biggest in fashion trends, beauty, culture and celebrity.
Read Next
Beauty
The Best Met Gala Beauty Looks Of All Time
From Taylor Swift's 'Bleachella' era to Rihanna's iconic 2011 braids, meet the best beauty moments in Met Gala history.
by : Katie Withington- Apr 26th, 2024
Culture
Benny Blanco Says He Fell in Love With Selena Gomez Without ‘Even Noticing’ It
Allow Benny Blanco to tell the straight-from-a-rom-com story of how he realized his feelings for his girlfriend and longtime friend.
by : Alyssa Bailey- Apr 26th, 2024
Culture
This University Elevates Women to New Professional Heights
You shouldn’t have to pause your life to move forward in your career.
by : ELLE Canada- Apr 16th, 2024