We Must End Systemic Racism; Companies Can Make a Real Difference

Open to All® is a campaign to transform America towards a shared vision that everyone should be welcome regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, immigration status, religion or disability.

The senseless and heartbreaking killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and countless others—and the hate violence and ongoing injustice experienced by the Black community shows how far we still are from that ideal.

We know that building a stronger country means everyone should feel safe, respected and accepted as they live, work, go grocery shopping, go for a run or a walk in the park, and when they interact with law enforcement.

Open to All® calls for an end to systemic racism and hate violence.

This moment requires Black voices to lead, and for the rest of us to truly listen and learn what real allyship requires. The time has long passed when silence is okay, when we watch from the safety of the sidelines—we must take action—not as a token towards inclusivity, but as a core and integral part of what it means to be a business in America. A business that looks towards a thriving and welcoming future where all are welcome. Where we are all valued. Where everyone can contribute. Where we are all safe. Where Black Lives Matter.

In the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” At a time of deep divisions, Open to All® is encouraging companies to come together to build a better America and challenge racial injustice across this country. A journey begins with a single step. Here are just a few steps that companies, large and small, can take to make a difference:

  • Donate to a Black-led organization doing the work to fight racial injustice nationally and in local communities.
  • Make a public statement in support of Black customers, employees, colleagues and the Black community from company leadership and share it on social media.
  • Create a space for internal dialogue and provide resources, information and support to employees.
  • Make a commitment and continue to invest in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts including: hiring, retention & advancement policies, and anti-racist and bias training.
  • Engage with and listen to Black-led organizations nationally and locally to combat racism.
  • Explore ways to lift up, partner, and support businesses and brands owned by Black people, Indigenous people, and other people of color.
  • Lend a corporate or small business voice in support of policy changes at the local, state, and federal level that promote fairness and equity, and that prohibit all forms of discrimination.

We are proud to be a coalition of businesses who see fairness and inclusion as a core part of how they do business. Here are a few ways that Open to All® companies are making the commitment to end systemic racism and hate violence:

Airbnb

Ben & Jerry’s

Fossil

Gap Inc.

H&M

Levi Strauss & Co.

Lyft

Movado Group

Ralph Lauren

Sephora

Tapestry Inc.

Tiffany & Co.

Yelp

25 Leading Businesses Urge Action to Address Racial Disparities Exacerbated by the COVID-19 Global Pandemic

Leaders including fashion giants Gap Inc., Levi Strauss & Co., and American Eagle Outfitters Inc. and Open to All® call on corporations and businesses to combat racial disparities and fight anti-Asian racism

OAKLAND, CA, MAY 7, 2020—Twenty-five businesses from companies across the country have committed to addressing racial disparities by signing on to a letter from Open to All® urging the business community to examine and work to combat the disparities and discrimination that have caused the COVID-19 global crisis to disproportionately impact Black, Latinx/Hispanic, and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. The letter is in response to data that show COVID-19 is resulting in a sharp rise of anti-Asian racism and is killing far greater numbers of Black, Latinx/Hispanic people, as well as Pacific Islanders.

Led by Open to All®—the national nondiscrimination campaign that believes everyone should be welcome regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, immigration status, religion, or disability—the letter encourages all businesses and corporations who sign to work to combat racial disparities and denounce anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander racism in their communities.

“COVID-19 is not the ‘great equalizer,’ as some have called it,” said Open to All® Campaign Director Calla Rongerude. “Rather, it is a profound reminder of how inequalities continue to permeate all areas of life. While the pandemic’s impact has reached far and wide, communities of color have been hit with the greatest ferocity. There are many factors at play, but some of the most significant are inequities in employment, pay, and access to healthcare—areas in which the business community can make a real difference. While many of these companies are themselves reeling from the crisis, they recognize the need to come together, now more than ever, to address the racial inequities that have been laid bare by COVID-19, and we thank them for their leadership.”

The letter was signed by AEO Inc., which includes brands American Eagle and Aerie; Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream; Capri Holdings Limited, which includes brands Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors, and Versace; Gap Inc., which includes brands Athleta, Banana Republic, Gap, Hill City, Intermix, and Old Navy; H&M; Lacoste; Levi Strauss & Co.; Movado Group, Inc.; Ralph Lauren; Steve Madden; and Tapestry, Inc., which includes brands Coach, kate spade new york, and Stuart Weitzman.

While businesses have different capacities to weather this storm and are facing difficult decisions in the coming months, these leaders are taking necessary action in both the immediate and long terms to protect their workers, customers, and communities. Open to All® is encouraging consumers to support businesses large and small that are doing the right thing like following best-practice safety protocols as well as those that are offering services like delivery or online ordering. In partnership with Yelp, consumers can search for Open to All® businesses on Yelp.com. This allows customers to find businesses that have pledged to be a safe and welcoming place to everyone.

Open to All® has also launched a new resource page to support employees, protect the health and wellbeing of customers and communities, sustain businesses large and small, and combat racial disparities and anti-Asian and Pacific Islander racism. Click here for the Open to All® COVID-19 Resource page.

“No matter what we look like, where we live, or our socioeconomic status, this global pandemic reminds us that at our core we’re all just human. This virus has shown us that we are dependent on one another, and whether we’re Black or White, Latinx or Asian, working behind the scenes or on the front lines, it’s time to come together in support of each other,” said Rongerude.

Click here to read the sign-on letter.

###

About Open to All®

Open to All® is one of the most significant public education efforts to date that unites and galvanizes national leaders in business, civic engagement, and the nonprofit sector to take a stand for shared American values of fairness and equality. In addition to the thousands of business members, Open to All® includes more than 200 nonprofit members spanning civil rights and racial justice organizations; LGBT equality organizations; health and disability organizations; faith organizations; and more. Open to All® members are committed to building awareness and understanding about the importance of nondiscrimination—and to defend the bedrock principle that when businesses open their doors to the public, they should be Open to All®.

Businesses that wish to join Open to All® can learn more and sign the pledge at http://www.opentoall.com/business-members/#business-pledge.

Open to All® Releases Inaugural Holiday Gift Guide to Harness Consumer Purchase Power In Support of Inclusive Businesses This Holiday Season

Yelp Activates New Search Filter Allowing Consumers to Easily Find ‘Open to All’ Businesses

DES MOINES, IOWA, NOVEMBER 21, 2019 — As the 2019 holiday season approaches, Open to All® today released its first-ever Open to All® Holiday Gift Guide to encourage consumers to use their purchase power this holiday season to support inclusive businesses. Open to All® is the nation’s largest campaign galvanizing leaders in business, civic engagement, and the nonprofit sector in support of shared American values of fairness and equality. The Holiday Gift Guide features products from some of the most iconic brands at every price point from an array of inclusive retailers, celebrating the core principle that any business that is open to the public should make every person feel safe and welcome—regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, immigration status, religion or disability.  

“Never before have so many businesses and nonprofits joined together in a single, unified campaign that sends a message that everyone is welcome, valued and respected,” said Calla Rongerude, Campaign Director of Open to All®. “With the Open to All® Holiday Gift Guide, we want to encourage people to give the gift of inclusion and send the message that when a business is open to the public, it should be Open to All®. At a time of deep divisions, Open to All® nonprofits and businesses are joining together from all walks of life and working to build a thriving and inclusive nation where all are welcome. When we value our employees and care for our customers and each other, we all thrive.” 

Among the Holiday Gift Guide’s featured businesses is leading omni-retailer Sephora, which officially announced today it has joined the Open to All® campaign, alongside thousands of retailers and brands that have already taken the Open to All® business pledge. As Open to All’s newest business member, Sephora joins a growing and vocal network of major brands uniting under Open to All’s banner—many of which are included in the Holiday Gift Guide—including Yelp, Gap Inc., Old Navy, Coach, kate spade new york, Chronicle Books, Fossil, Lacoste, Michaels Craft Stores, Steve Madden, H&M, and thousands of small businesses. 

Building on Open to All’s ongoing work with Yelp, starting today, people can filter by “Open to All”—an attribute which allows businesses to distinguish themselves as a safe and welcoming place to everyone—when searching for restaurants, shops, bakeries, tailors, and much more. Yelp users will also be able to identify participating businesses by the newly designed “Open to All” icon displayed on their Yelp page. These new features make it easier than ever for consumers to support inclusive businesses.  

“At Yelp, we believe everyone should be treated with dignity and respect,” said Miriam Warren, Vice President of Engagement, Diversity and Belonging at Yelp. “It’s our hope that by updating the platform to make it easier to find inclusive businesses, users will support establishments that are safe and welcoming spaces for all, and more business owners will activate the attribute. Yelp exists to connect consumers with great local businesses, and we’re doing our part to make it easier for all of our consumers to patronize stores, salons, and more, without fear of discrimination.” 

Over 300,000 businesses are listed as “Open to All” on Yelp. Businesses that want to let potential customers know that they are inclusive can activate the attribute on their Yelp page by logging into their Yelp for Business Owners app and updating their information. 

Consumers Increasingly Demonstrating their Values through Purchasing 

The Open to All® Holiday Gift Guide comes at a time when consumers are demonstrating a strong preference for supporting welcoming businesses.  

Research shows that people shop from places that share their values. One report found that 72% of consumers see a company’s values as a deal breaker or deciding factor when considering which brand to buy. Moreover, 69% want brands to be more involved in societal issues and express their values. 

Another study found that a third of consumers want to buy from brands that are making a positive social or environmental impact. Supporting businesses with a purpose is especially meaningful for young people. According to one survey, nearly two-thirds of millennials and Gen Z favor brands that have a point of view and stand for something. 

“I started RAYGUN because I wanted to add something to the community I grew up in,” said Mike Draper, founder and owner of RAYGUN, which sells t-shirts, stickers, notebooks, postcards in stores across the Midwest. “I can think of nothing better than for this to be a space where everyone is welcome. Where they may like the product, or not, but where they are free to come in, to shop, and to be themselves.” 

The Holiday Gift Guide can be accessed on Open to All’s website here: www.opentoall.com/2019giftguide. For more information about the Holiday Guide, or to speak with an Open to All® representative, please contact calla@opentoall.com.  

Businesses that wish to join Open to All® can learn more and sign the pledge at http://www.opentoall.com/business-members/#business-pledge. 

# # # 

About Open to All®  

Open to All® is one of the most significant public education efforts to date that unites and galvanizes national leaders in business, civic engagement, and the nonprofit sector to take a stand for shared American values of fairness and equality. In addition to the thousands of business members, Open to All® includes more than 200 nonprofit members spanning civil rights and racial justice organizations; LGBT equality organizations; health and disability organizations; faith organizations; and more. Open to All® members are committed to building awareness and understanding about the importance of nondiscrimination—and to defend the bedrock principle that when businesses open their doors to the public, they should be Open to All®. 

Tapestry and its brands – Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman – bring the fashion industry together to sign Open to All® pledge

Tapestry, the CFDA and fashion peers support inclusivity on the eve of New York Fashion Week (NYFW)

(New York, NY), SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 – Tapestry, Inc. (NYSE: TPR), a leading New York-based house of modern luxury accessories and lifestyle brands, today announced it is signing the Open to All® pledge, in support of its ethos that when “a business opens its doors to the public, it should be open to all.” Tapestry was joined by over 50 fashion houses and brands, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion and the Open to All® campaign, to make a powerful statement about the industry’s commitment to fostering inclusivity and protecting equality.

This collective effort was inspired by Tapestry’s work with the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion. Founding Open to All® signatories and fellow CEO Action members Levi Strauss & Co. and Gap Inc. (Old Navy), joined Tapestry as they signed the Open to All® pledge alongside ascena retail group (Ann Taylor, Catherines, Justice, Lane Bryant, LOFT, Lou and Grey), Ban.do, Capri Holdings (Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo, Versace), Diane von Furstenberg, Fossil Group (Fossil, Michele, Misfit, Relic, Skagen, Watch Station, Zodiac), H&M Group (H&M, COS, & other Stories), Hudsons Bay Company (Saks Fifth Avenue), Incipio, Inditex (Zara), Keds, Kering, Lifeguard Press, Lenox, Movado, PVH Corp. (Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger), Rag & Bone, Ralph Lauren (Club Monaco), Richemont (Cartier, Chloé, dunhill, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Montblanc, Officine Panerai, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels), Steve Madden, Tiffany & Co. and The Collected Group (Current Elliott, Equipment, Joie).

Jide Zeitlin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tapestry, Inc. said, “When we founded Tapestry almost two years ago, we asked employees around the world what they wanted our company to stand for. Overwhelmingly, they told us ‘inclusivity,’ to represent the diversity of our employees, our customers and the communities in which we operate. This is an important moment for us to reaffirm our commitment to inclusivity. By joining the CFDA, the Open to All® campaign, and other fashion houses to collectively support and sign the Open to All® pledge, we are sending a message that we will not tolerate discrimination. Together, we are taking a stand for the rights of our customers, our employees and our partners.”

Steven Kolb, President and CEO of the CFDA said, “The CFDA supports Open to All® and thanks Tapestry for its effort in bringing our industry together behind diversity, inclusion, and equality.”

Ineke Mushovic, Executive Director of Open to All® said, “In the two years since Open to All’s inception, we have had over 5,000 companies sign the pledge. We have been inspired and humbled by Tapestry’s leadership and vision. Tapestry has worked beyond the walls of their stores to bring the fashion industry together to join the Open to All® campaign in building a thriving, inclusive, competitive America where customers and employees are valued, respected and welcomed regardless of who they are. This exemplifies the spirit of Open to All® and creates true transformation—especially for everyone out there who is struggling and wants to know where they will be safe, welcomed and accepted.”

On Earth Day 2019, Tapestry launched bold 2025 corporate responsibility goals, including a commitment to build diversity in North America Tapestry and brand leadership teams.  This will be achieved by increasing the number of North America-based ethnic minority leaders to better reflect the company’s general corporate population, and to reduce gender and ethnic differences in the Employee Inclusion Index scores from the Company’s Employee Engagement Survey.

In July 2019, Tapestry joined over 200 companies in signing the Amicus brief – a “friend of the court” brief – to support the protection of the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination under existing federal civil rights laws. Tapestry achieved a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index for the fifth consecutive year in 2019, earning the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality. Additionally, Tapestry was listed on the Forbes 2019 “Best Employers for Diversity” list for the second consecutive year. In 2017, Tapestry signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge to reaffirm the company’s commitment towards advancing inclusion and diversity in the workplace. Other highlights include the establishment of an Inclusion Council to ensure that people with diverse perspectives and backgrounds are included in business decisions, inclusion training for all Tapestry employees globally, as well as gender neutral uniform guidelines for store employees.

To engage employees on the importance of dialogue and conversation, Tapestry hosts events celebrating Pride, International Women’s Day and Black History Month, and regularly hosts a discussion series called “Unscripted,” where diverse internal and external leaders share their stories about optimism, innovation and inclusivity. Our brands have shown support for inclusivity with Coach’s “Words Matter” campaign featuring Michael B. Jordan, kate spade new york empowers women to be the heroines of their own stories through social impact programs, the kate spade foundation and on purpose, a social enterprise initiative that has created over 250 full-time jobs, 93 percent of which are held by women in the Abahizi factory in Masoro, Rwanda, and Stuart Weitzman is proud of its inclusive sizing, with sizes ranging from four to 12 in widths of narrow, medium and wide. Learn more at www.tapestry.com/responsibility.


###

About Open to All®

Open to All® is the nationwide public engagement campaign to build awareness and understanding about the importance of protecting people from discrimination—and to defend the bedrock principle that when businesses open their doors to the public, they should be Open to All®. The Open to All® coalition consists of more than 5,000 businesses and 200 civil rights and racial justice organizations; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations and community centers; health advocates, disability advocates and faith organizations; and other groups working to protect and strengthen our nation’s nondiscrimination protections and defend the principle that when a business opens its doors to the public, it should be open to all and not discriminate. Visit www.OpenToAll.com/supporters for a full list of supporters.

About CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion

The CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace. This commitment is driven by a realization that addressing diversity and inclusion is not a competitive issue, but a societal issue. Recognizing that change starts at the executive level, more than 700 CEOs of the world’s leading companies and business organizations, are leveraging their individual and collective voices to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. And because there is a collective opportunity for both CEOs and the workforce to address these challenges, we have created the I Act On pledge for any individual to take.

About Tapestry, Inc.

Tapestry, Inc. is a New York-based house of modern luxury lifestyle brands. The Company’s portfolio includes Coach, kate spade new york and Stuart Weitzman. Our Company and our brands are founded upon a creative and consumer-led view of luxury that stands for inclusivity and approachability. Each of our brands are unique and independent, while sharing a commitment to innovation and authenticity defined by distinctive products and differentiated customer experiences across channels and geographies. To learn more about Tapestry, follow us at www.linkedin.com/company/tapestryinc or visit www.tapestry.com. The Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TPR. 

This information to be made available in this press release may contain forward-looking statements based on management’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements that can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “can,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “continue,” “project,” “guidance,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “anticipate,” “moving,” “leveraging,” “capitalizing,” “developing,” “drive,” “targeting,” “assume,” “plan,” “build,” “pursue,” “maintain,” “on track,” “well positioned to,” “look forward to,” “to acquire,” “achieve,” “strategic vision,” “growth opportunities” or comparable terms. Future results may differ materially from management’s current expectations, based upon a number of important factors, including risks and uncertainties such as expected economic trends, the ability to anticipate consumer preferences, the ability to control costs and successfully execute our transformation and operational efficiency initiatives and growth strategies and our ability to achieve intended benefits, cost savings and synergies from acquisitions, the impact of tax legislation, etc. Please refer to the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a complete list of risks and important factors. The Company assumes no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.

On its 25th anniversary, Old Navy partners with Open to All® to affirm its commitment to welcome everyone

(San Francisco, CA), JUNE 25, 2019 — To mark its 25th anniversary, Old Navy today announced an expanded partnership with Open to All®. Starting today, the iconic American fashion brand will significantly expand its Open to All® presence across North America by displaying welcoming signs in its storefronts across United States, Mexico, and Canada, and by donating $25,000 to support Open to All®.

“Since its founding, Old Navy has been a leader in diversity and inclusion, and we are deeply grateful for their commitment to inclusion,” said Open to All® Campaign Manager Calla Rongerude. “Old Navy and Open to All® are joining together to build understanding about the importance of protecting people from discrimination, and the bedrock principle that when businesses open their doors to the public, they should be Open to All®.”

To celebrate the expanded partnership, Open to All® has turned its website and logo purple in solidarity with Old Navy’s purple anniversary celebration on June 25, and Old Navy store associates are wearing purple Open to All® badges.

“One thing is certain, we will never stop believing that Old Navy can be a place where customers and communities feel a sense of belonging — and do our best to make that so,” said Old Navy President & CEO Sonia Syngal. “Our doors are open for everyone, and also open for ideas, open for love, open for differences, open for dialogue, and open for change.”

Founded in 1994, Old Navy is a recognized leader in diversity and inclusion, working to make sure everyone is welcome and celebrated in stores across America. As one of the founding partners to sign the Open to All® business pledge, Old Navy is reaffirming its commitment to maintaining a welcoming and safe environment for all people—including employees, visitors, customers, vendors, and clients—and to serve everyone on the same terms regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, immigration status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion or disability.

Rongerude spoke today at Old Navy’s headquarters to thank the company for its support and for putting its values into action. Rongerude underscored Old Navy’s leadership, noting that the company links its extraordinary success to its values of inclusivity and belonging.

“We hope other businesses are inspired by Old Navy and join them in declaring that they are Open to All®,” Open to All’s Rongerude said. “We agree with Old Navy and more than 5,000 other businesses nationwide who believe that we all benefit from treating every employee, customer, and vendor with the same dignity and respect.”

There are more than 1,100 Old Navy stores around the world.

Businesses wishing to join Open to All® can learn more and sign the pledge at http://www.opentoall.com/business-pledge/.

# # #

Old Navy is a global apparel and accessories brand that makes current American essentials accessible to every family. Originated in 1994, the brand celebrates the democracy of style through on-trend, playfully optimistic, affordable and high-quality product. A division of San Francisco-based Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS), Old Navy brings a fun, energizing shopping environment to its customers in more than 1,100 stores around the world.

Open to All® is one of the most significant public education efforts to date that unites and galvanizes national leaders in business, civic engagement, and the nonprofit sector to take a stand for shared American values of fairness and equality. In addition to the more than 5,000 business members, Open to All® includes more than 200 nonprofit members spanning civil rights and racial justice organizations; LGBT equality organizations; health and disability organizations; faith organizations; and more. Open to All® members are committed to building awareness and understanding about the importance of nondiscrimination—and to defend the bedrock principle that when businesses open their doors to the public, they should be Open to All®.