TORONTO -- Boho-chic lifestyle retailer Anthropologie denied accusations it racially profiled customers by assigning codenames to Black shoppers so employees could watch them more closely.
Earlier this week, Diet Prada, an Instagram account within the fashion industry, reported that multiple employees from stores across the U.S. and Canada said they were told to watch Black shoppers and that the codename 鈥淣ick鈥� was used.
鈥淩egarding allegations of racial profiling, we have never and will never have a code word based on a customer鈥檚 race or ethnicity, Our company has a zero-tolerance policy regarding discrimination or racial profiling in any form,鈥� the clothing and home furnishing store wrote in an on Wednesday.
鈥淲e support and stand with the Black community. We are listening, learning, and reflecting on how we, as a brand, can improve diversity and combat racism.鈥�
The accusations, which came from users who said they worked at stores in California, Chicago, Seattle, New York City, and Canada, first appeared in the comments section of an that called for equity and quoted Black author Maya Angelou.
鈥淲ith any mention of the #BlackLivesMatter movement absent, Angelou鈥檚 words could be interpreted more along the lines of 鈥樷��, lest Anthro offend their primary target audience,鈥� Diet Prada鈥檚 post wrote. Instagram users also noted the omission. The company in a post several days later.
Comments in also made similar accusations, including users who said they were employees of other brands under the same company. Free People and Urban Outfitters are also .
鈥淲hen I worked at UO my boss would constantly profile Black customers & make them uncomfortable. Our code names for 鈥榗ustomers caught stealing鈥� were Nick & Nicole,鈥� .
鈥淣ot only Anthropologie but every company in the family 鈥� I work for Urban Outfitters it鈥檚 the same way here,鈥� wrote another user.
Urban Outfitters could not be immediately reached for comment.
Diet Prada also called out the company鈥檚 commitment to workforce diversity after a queer Black influencer said they were asked to potentially take part in a Pride campaign without pay, and instead was offered an outfit.
鈥淚t鈥檚 worth mentioning that it鈥檚 not true that they do not pay 鈥榤icro-influencers.鈥� I know (non-Black) influencers with similar followings and engagement to theirs that have worked with Anthro on paid social campaigns,鈥� fashion writer Nicolette Mason .
Anthropology also addressed these claims, saying that it compensated all partners with whom it contracted services.
鈥淚n the case of influencers, our methods of compensation include product, financial payment, or a combination of both,鈥� the post said.
Diet Prada noted in its post that these types of racial codenames have been used by other companies .
Moschino allegedly used 鈥淪erena鈥� in reference to tennis star Serena Williams. of using the term 鈥渟pecial order鈥� in a survey of 251 employees in New York City. by a former employee who accused his manager of using 鈥淒410鈥� - the company鈥檚 merchandise colour code for black shirts - to relay a message that a Black customer had entered the store.
With companies issuing statements on equity in support of the anti-Black racism protests around the world, many former employees have come forward accusing businesses of failing to live up to their statements.
Complaints of racial discrimination have also been leveled against other fashion retailers, including Reformation -- a company whose 鈥渂rand鈥� is built on being responsible and ethical. Former employees alleged incidents of mistreatment, disparities in workplace conditions, and being overlooked for advancement because they were Black. The company鈥檚 founder, Yael Aflalo, who apologized earlier this week for her failure on Instagram, , according to a .
