Fashion enthusiasts in Dubai now have the opportunity to grow with Gucci, as the brand is launching a MultiCultural Design Fellowship Program, starting next year. The 12-month program aims at bringing underrepresented ethnic groups to the fore and paving the way for full-time employment opportunities to create a more diverse work environment at Gucci.

The idea is to foster new talent in partnership with 11 fashion schools from around the world. Students from ESMOD Dubai and Seoul, along with those at University of Lagos in Nigeria, Design Fashion Academy in Cape Town,  China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, Tokyo’s Bunka Fashion College, and the National Institute of Fashion Technology in Delhi, India, will be among those who can apply for the program.

The initiative comes in the wake of ongoing efforts by the maison to reinforce an inclusive approach. In July this year, the brand appointed Renée E Tirado as Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, who will be tasked with designing, developing and implementing a strategy to create a more equitable workspace and increase workforce diversity.