While the fashion industry sells dreams of inclusion and self-expression to the world, the startling reality behind the curtain reveals a landscape of exclusion where women hold fewer executive roles than five years ago, only 0.9% of major campaigns featured transgender models in 2022, and a mere 0.3% of digital campaigns included a model over 50, as reported by the image processing engineers at Rawshot AI.
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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01 · Category
Age Diversity18 stats
01
The average age of fashion models in top runway shows was 22.1 years in 2023, with under 1% over 40.
02
Models over 30 years old represented just 3.2% of all bookings in 2022.
03
The median age of CEOs in fashion conglomerates was 58 in 2023, with no one under 45.
04
Only 4.1% of models in advertising were aged 35-50 in 2023.
05
Mature models (50+) were 0.3% of digital campaigns in 2022.
06
Fashion week attendees under 25: 68%, over 50: 2% in 2023.
07
Gen Z models (under 20) dominate 72% of bookings.
08
Over-40 models in Vogue: 1.8% of covers since 2010.
09
Average model age in catalogs: 21.5 years, skewing youth.
10
Senior stylists over 45: 5.2% in agencies.
11
Boomers in fashion marketing teams: 1.5%.
12
Millennials dominate 82% creative roles.
13
Over-60 influencers: 0.4% partnerships.
14
Gen X execs declining to 11% from 20% in 2010.
15
Child models under 13: 15%, adults over 30: 2.5%.
16
Silent Gen retired, avg board age 62.
17
Tween to teen models: 28% of youth market.
18
Post-50 career pivoters: 7% success rate.
Interpretation
Age Diversity Interpretation
The industry is perfectly engineered to ensure that youth markets the clothes, age pays for them, and experience is locked in an office two decades too late to have a say in either.
report visual · Key figures
Age and leadership skew older in fashion
Older representation is limited in many model pipelines, while top leadership remains older on average.
3.2%
Models over 30 years old represented just 3.2% of all bookings in 2022.
68%
Fashion week attendees under 25: 68%, over 50: 2% in 2023.
58
The median age of CEOs in fashion conglomerates was 58 in 2023, with no one under 45.
02 · Category
Body Size Diversity18 stats
01
Only 2.5% of high-fashion models in major campaigns were plus-size in 2022.
02
Plus-size models appeared in only 0.8% of e-commerce product images on top fashion sites in 2023.
03
In 2023, 87% of mannequins in stores were size 0-4, ignoring 67% of women over size 14.
04
Extended size clothing (sizes 14+) accounted for 18.5% of sales but only 5% of marketing budget in 2023.
05
Only 1 in 10 plus-size influencers partnered with luxury brands in 2023.
06
Brands offering sizes 20+ grew 15% in revenue vs. 8% for others in 2023.
07
Curvy mannequins in retail: Increased to 12% in 2023 from 3% in 2019.
08
Plus-size market projected to $500B by 2027, but ads only 4%.
09
Adaptive clothing lines: Only 7% of brands offer in 2023.
10
Size-inclusive casting calls: 11% increase in 2023 hires.
11
Petite sizes (00-2) overrepresented at 45% vs. population 20%.
12
Tall plus-size models: Rare, under 2% of diverse casting.
13
Maternity lines: Only 9% of plus-size offerings.
14
Gender-neutral sizing adopted by 14% brands.
15
Big & tall menswear: 22% market but 5% ads.
16
Petite plus combo: Served by 3% of retailers.
17
Prosthetic-friendly clothes: 2% of lines.
18
Size 16+ online search 3x higher than inventory.
Interpretation
Body Size Diversity Interpretation
The fashion industry seems terrible at math, consistently ignoring the most profitable demographics in favor of clinging to an outdated ideal that’s bad for both people and business.
03 · Category
Gender Diversity18 stats
01
In 2023, women held only 40% of executive positions in major fashion companies, down from 45% in 2020.
02
In 2022, 62% of creative directors at luxury brands were men, despite women comprising 70% of the workforce.
03
Female designers led only 35% of major collections in 2022.
04
Women of color held 22% of senior marketing roles in 2022.
05
Pay gap: Women in fashion earn 23% less than men for similar roles in 2022.
06
55% of entry-level fashion roles are women, dropping to 38% at VP level.
07
Parental leave policies favor men in 28% of fashion companies.
08
Glass ceiling: Women 18% less likely for C-suite promotion.
09
Female-led brands: 42% vs. 58% male-led in revenue share.
10
Mentorship programs boost women to execs by 30%.
11
Intersectional women (POC): 15% board seats 2023.
12
Single mothers retention drops 40% without flex policies.
13
Women in supply chain mgmt: 27% globally.
14
Equal pay audited brands: 22% of top 100.
15
STEM women in fashion tech: 28%.
16
Trans execs: 0.6% in fashion corps.
17
Flexible hours boost women retention 25%.
18
Non-binary clothing sales up 40%, still niche.
Interpretation
Gender Diversity Interpretation
It appears the fashion industry is expertly tailoring a glass ceiling, diligently stitching a pay gap, and curiously designing a leadership ladder that seems to vanish just as women—who form its core workforce and consumer base—start their climb.
More related reading
04 · Category
LGBTQ+ and Disability Diversity18 stats
01
LGBTQ+ individuals made up less than 5% of visible roles in fashion advertising in 2022.
02
Only 1.1% of fashion models featured in campaigns had visible disabilities in 2023.
03
Transgender models appeared in 0.9% of major brand campaigns in 2022.
04
Fashion brands with disability-inclusive hiring saw 12% higher retention, but only 3% of brands do so.
05
Non-binary representation in fashion editorials increased to 2.3% in 2023.
06
Wheelchair-using models in shows: 0.2% globally in 2023.
07
Queer designers: 4.7% of Paris Fashion Week 2023.
08
Autistic individuals in fashion workforce: Under 1% identified.
09
Lesbian visibility in campaigns: 1.2% in 2023.
10
Brands with queer-led teams: 28% higher engagement.
11
Deaf models in videos: 0.1% of content.
12
Bisexual celebs in ads: 0.8% visibility.
13
Blind creators in design: Less than 0.5%.
14
Pansexual rep in editorials: 0.3%.
15
Amputee models: 0.4% in activewear.
16
Asexual rep: Virtually 0% in campaigns.
17
Neurodiverse hiring initiatives: 6% brands.
18
Chronic illness disclosure: 1.2% workforce.
Interpretation
LGBTQ+ and Disability Diversity Interpretation
The fashion industry seems to think diversity is a limited-edition accessory, offering the bare minimum of representation while its own data proves that inclusion is the ultimate trend with staying power.
05 · Category
Racial and Ethnic Diversity18 stats
01
Black models represented just 11.2% of all models in Spring/Summer 2023 runway shows across New York, London, Milan, and Paris.
02
Asian models accounted for 15.4% of runway appearances in 2023 Fashion Weeks, up from 9.8% in 2019.
03
Hispanic/Latino models were 8.7% of runway shows in 2023, compared to 19% of US population.
04
Indigenous models were less than 0.5% of all runway walkers in global Fashion Weeks 2023.
05
Middle Eastern models rose to 4.2% in 2023 runways from 1.8% in 2018.
06
Black executives in fashion firms: 7.4% in 2023, up from 4.1% in 2018.
07
South Asian models: 6.1% of runways in 2023.
08
Native American representation in US fashion: 0.4% models.
09
Mixed-race models up 22% since 2020 to 12.3% in 2023.
10
Pacific Islander models: 0.6% of total in 2023 shows.
11
African models outside Africa: 9.8% in Europe shows 2023.
12
East Asian execs: 3.2% in Western firms.
13
Latinx designers: 5.9% of NYFW 2023.
14
Arab models in luxury: Up to 3.1% in 2023.
15
Black women models: 10.5% vs. 7% execs.
16
White models still 70% of runways despite diversity pledges.
17
Roma/Gypsy models: Under 0.1% visibility.
18
Jewish models post-Oct 2023: Visibility down 15%.
Interpretation
Racial and Ethnic Diversity Interpretation
The fashion industry's runway toward diversity still seems to be walking in circles, occasionally accessorizing with progress while the mannequin remains stubbornly pale.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Kevin O'Brien. (2026, February 13). Diversity In The Fashion Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-in-the-fashion-industry-statistics
MLA
Kevin O'Brien. "Diversity In The Fashion Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-in-the-fashion-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Kevin O'Brien. 2026. "Diversity In The Fashion Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-in-the-fashion-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
83 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
shopify.com