Key Takeaways
- In 2023, women held only 40% of executive positions in major fashion companies, down from 45% in 2020.
- In 2022, 62% of creative directors at luxury brands were men, despite women comprising 70% of the workforce.
- Female designers led only 35% of major collections in 2022.
- Black models represented just 11.2% of all models in Spring/Summer 2023 runway shows across New York, London, Milan, and Paris.
- Asian models accounted for 15.4% of runway appearances in 2023 Fashion Weeks, up from 9.8% in 2019.
- Hispanic/Latino models were 8.7% of runway shows in 2023, compared to 19% of US population.
- Only 2.5% of high-fashion models in major campaigns were plus-size in 2022.
- Plus-size models appeared in only 0.8% of e-commerce product images on top fashion sites in 2023.
- In 2023, 87% of mannequins in stores were size 0-4, ignoring 67% of women over size 14.
- The average age of fashion models in top runway shows was 22.1 years in 2023, with under 1% over 40.
- Models over 30 years old represented just 3.2% of all bookings in 2022.
- The median age of CEOs in fashion conglomerates was 58 in 2023, with no one under 45.
- LGBTQ+ individuals made up less than 5% of visible roles in fashion advertising in 2022.
- Only 1.1% of fashion models featured in campaigns had visible disabilities in 2023.
- Transgender models appeared in 0.9% of major brand campaigns in 2022.
The fashion industry still lacks diversity in leadership, representation, and size inclusivity.
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Age Diversity
Age Diversity Interpretation
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Body Size Diversity
Body Size Diversity Interpretation
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Gender Diversity
Gender Diversity Interpretation
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LGBTQ+ and Disability Diversity
LGBTQ+ and Disability Diversity Interpretation
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Racial and Ethnic Diversity
Racial and Ethnic Diversity Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). Diversity In The Fashion Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-in-the-fashion-industry-statistics
Kevin O'Brien. "Diversity In The Fashion Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-in-the-fashion-industry-statistics.
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "Diversity In The Fashion Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-in-the-fashion-industry-statistics.
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