Prada denied any discrimination but has committed to internal re-education, engaging in financial and employment outreach with minority communities, and submitting to external monitoring of its progress for the next two years...

[C]ity government [...] has never focused so specifically on the images and products fashion brands disseminate.

The move has rattled many in the industry, where traditionally such value judgments are left to the consumer...

“It indicates an understanding that one of the most powerful mediums for communicating racism is through cultural imagery.” ...

And the result establishes precedent. Especially because the agreements are not just about punishing past offenses but shaping what may happen in the future...

A spokeswoman for Prada responding to questions this week via email wrote that “given that the resemblance of the products to blackface was by no means intentional,” and the company had worked quickly to remedy the situation, Prada was “surprised” to hear from the commission...

The commission agreement, which was seen by The New York Times, requires Prada to provide sensitivity training, including “racial equity training,” for all New York employees within 120 days of signing the agreement — as well as for executives in Milan since the commission argued that decisions made in Italy have repercussions in New York.