Depop's recent statement on their commitment to the Black community (https://blog.depop.com/articles/our-commitment-to-the-black-community includes this:

"We see our platform as a tool to equalise entry into the fashion world, allowing people to connect, discover and get inspired on their terms. As a company, we need to evolve our platform to allow for the future that's ahead of us. That starts with building a more diverse internal community at Depop."

We want Depop's policies to reflect this statement. If they want to "equalise entry into the fashion world," that needs to include BIPOC, people of different abilities, different economic status, different shapes, and different gender expression.

We request the following:

1. a) Feature items photographed on mannequins and hangers.

1. b) Treat items photographed on mannequins and hangers equally to those photographed on models and in flat-lays in the search engine.

Depop does not feature clothing on mannequins or hangers, but only features modeled photos or flat-lays. This is troublesome in multiple ways:

• Many disabled people physically can not model their own clothes.
• This punishes people who wear non-traditional sizes and cannot model clothing that does not fit them.
• This punishes sellers who may wear traditional sizes, but are size-inclusive in what they sell and can not model clothing that does not fit them. Meanwhile, thin sellers are able to model larger clothing.
• Sellers with body dysmorphia and body image issues feel uncomfortable modeling their clothing.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, sellers may be unable to hire or ask friends to model their clothes without risking their health and the health of others.
• This creates the kind of environment where conventionally attractive people become top sellers based on their looks.
• The focus on the "photo quality" of modeled shots has led to Black sellers not being given the same platform as their white counterparts, something Depop has recently come under fire for and has acknowledged as an issue. It feels very out of touch for them to prioritize something as subjective "photo quality" at the same time as some of the biggest names in fashion photography are finally being exposed for racism in their work.

Now Depop is updating their search feature so that "instead of only new items showing first, search results will prioritize relevant, clear listings from shops that stick to the rules and have positive buyer feedback." They go on to explain how much "focusing on imagery" will affect your popularity with this new update. This is going to have the same implications as before but now it is not just about being featured but about being seen as a seller at all.

2. Foster a community that does not contribute to a culture of body negativity and eating disorders.

Depop's culture as it currently stands contributes to toxic body image and fosters disordered eating. There have been so many people talking about skipping meals in order to be able to model their clothing for Depop or editing the photos they post on the platform to give themselves smaller waists.

Depop is not an inclusive and supportive space for plus size sellers.

• The Explore page mainly features thin bodies. At the time this is written, out of 34 items, 2 were size XL modeled on a straight sized body and 2 were size XL modeled on a plus size body. There was one flat lay for an XL item. 
  At the time this is written, the top sellers section did not feature any plus size top sellers. Some sellers had an occasional XL item, but they tend to model or advertise XL clothing as oversized clothing. It is insulting for plus size fashion to be taken by straight sized people and turned into "oversized" fashion. Plus size people are not oversized. 
  The plus size tag is filled with spam or clothes that are not plus size. Sizes under size 18 or XL are not considered plus size by the fashion industry. It is nearly impossible to find clothing as a plus size person when the one tag offered is filled with jewelry, shoes, and straight sized clothing. This has driven away many plus size sellers and buyers.

We suggest:

• Create a section specifically for the promotion of plus size fashion. At the time this is written, within the MEET SELLERS section of the platform, there is a PRIDE 2020 LGBTQIA+ section, a SHOP BLACK SELLERS Support Change section, a Retro section, a Modern Thrift section, a Sustainable sections, a Hot RN section, and a Top Sellers section. We want to see a Plus Size section featuring size XL/18 and up. 
  Fix the spam tagging situation. Get moderators or change the tagging system. For example, other popular reselling sites make sellers choose specific categories for their items and if their item does not fit that category the listing is deleted. 
  Be transparent with how you choose what is featured. The Depop website says there is an editorial team who curates the Explore page. Who makes up this team? How do they choose what is "the best of Depop"? If the current Explore page is considered the best of Depop, then the message is that plus size clothing and sellers are definitely not considered to be the best of Depop regardless of the effort put in to achieve "best of" standards.

3.   a) Transparency in the requirements for items to be featured on the Explore page, including "Made For You" "Meet the Sellers" and "Things We Love" sections.

3.   b) Transparency in the new search feature organization policies

3.   c) Transparency in any algorithms used to organize the platform

Deciding factors for being featured or promoted as a seller are all shrouded in mystery and based on speculation. Users are unable to hold Depop accountable for featuring sellers with all types of bodies, experiences, and shops if they do not know how they decide who to feature. Additionally, where algorithms are used to make organizational decisions instead of people, those algorithms can be programmed with the same biases as those who program them based on the sample data used and how the algorithms are written in the first place.

4. Better moderation of racist and otherwise bigoted imagery  as well a graphic violent imagery posted by sellers and better response to reports of these items.

CW/TW: abuse, violence, possible death, child abuse

There are a number of items posted by sellers on Depop's platform that cause harm to those who utilize the platform. The following is a list of examples of such posts, described to the best of our ability without sharing the triggering imagery. All of these posts have been reported and remained on the platform.

IMAGE #1: This image is of a rectangular sticker of a comic. In one panel, a police officer is chasing a monkey. In the next panel, there is a skeleton with a speech bubble that says "death". This is a depiction of racist police violence as it implies the "monkey"-- an icon often used as a racist descriptor of Black people-- is murdered by the police officer. This comic is depicted on a number of t-shirts and stickers listed on Depop. At the time this was written, when "comic brandy" was typed into the search bar, this sticker was the first search result.

IMAGE #2: There is a racist depiction of an indigenous person on a baseball cap. Underneath the image is the work "REDSKINS." If you search "Redskins" on Depop, there are hundreds of similar designs on all sorts of garments.

IMAGE #3: There is a white raglan t-shirt with black accents. On the t-shirt is an image of a humanoid child bear character taking off their underwear revealing a vagina. The description of the item includes baby bottles emojis. This image has been printed and sold on various pieces of clothing by the seller.

IMAGE #4: There is a purple t-shirt. On the t-shirt is printed a child's drawing or an imitation of a child's drawing of violence between two people. The victim looks smaller and possibly younger than the abuser. The abuser character is holding a knife while pulling the other character's hair. The victim has a slit throat with blood spurting out of it. In the description, the art is called "murder girls." This image may or may not be a real red flag for abuse. This image has been printed and sold on various pieces of clothing by the seller.

5. Remove the requirement to categorize clothing as either "Menswear" or "Womenswear."

When choosing a category for an item, a requirement to list something on Depop, we are given the following list to choose from: Menswear, Womenswear, Jewellery, Art, Tech, Home, Kids, Beauty, Sports equipment, Transportation, Other, Books & Magazines, Film, Music, and Face Masks and Coverings. Within the categories of "Menswear" and "Womenswear," there is then the choice between Tops, Bottoms, Underwear, Outerwear, Accessories, and Shoes. There is no reason for these options to not be available under an umbrella terms of "Clothing" instead of needlessly gendering objects. Not only do the two categories of "Menswear" and "Womenswear" reinforce a gender binary that does not apply to many Depop users, it is also harmful in perpetuating stereotypes of what constitutes manhood and womanhood. These categories are restrictive to trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming buyers and sellers. They do not serve cisgender buyers and sellers either. There are many sellers who market their clothing as "unisex" (often vintage, denim, streetwear, and sportswear) and the gender categories inhibit their sales and make it difficult for sellers to find them, despite their popularity.

6. We want to hold Depop accountable to make the changes outlined in their blog post "OUR COMMITMENT TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY,"which is copied below.

"We commit to increase the presence of these communities as sellers. This will make it easier to shop and discover more diverse sellers across all our channels – including the Explore page…We are committed to increasing representation of Black and POC communities on our leadership team, and specifically the executive team. We'll also be kicking off the search for our first in-house Diversity & Inclusion leader. This role will report to our CEO and work alongside our internal inclusion group to redefine our existing D&I roadmap and to create more opportunities for action, education and conversation around diversity, inclusion, and equity. In addition, we will be fast-tracking efforts, including new D&I training for all staff and our management team."