By 
Paris Fashion Week 2024
The analysis of the diversity of skin colour in models continues. The focus this time is Paris Fashion Week.
The criterion remains the same, that is a mathematical calculation of the number of white Euro-American, Asian and Black models walking down the runway. Head to the first analysis on Milan Fashion Week to fully understand the viewpoint.
Top Brands Analysed
The choice of the brands does not follow logic but it is purely random. A total of 10 high-end brands were considered. In alphabetical order: Alexander McQueen, Balmain, Chloé, Courrèges, Hermès, Loewe, Saint Laurent, Schiaparelli, Victoria Beckham and Yohji Yamamoto.
What was my expectation?
Certainly dictated by prejudice, French fashion is very selective and closed to diversity in my opinion. Consequently, I expected to find a majority of white Euro-American models, and a very low if not non-existent number of dark-skinned and Asian models.
The results: 1 in 10 brands supporting diversity
Out of a total of 471 appearances on the runway, data shows that the appearances of white-skinned models represent the majority. 62% of the garments on shows were worn by white-skinned models, 25% by models with dark skin (black and brown), and only 13% by Asian models.
Breaking down the incidence of the appearances of dark-skinned models, it is striking that Hermès reaches 38% with dark-skinned models (black and brown). Adding Asian models to this percentage, Hermès reaches first place for promoting diversity on its runway with 52%.
Hermès is a brand with a solid heritage and seeing that it maintains an openness towards diversity distances itself from the prejudice of a classist brand aimed at the white elite. Society has not yet moved away from the ideas of class status, especially within the French context.
Although Balmain and Saint Laurent do not reach 50% diversity within their fashion shows, the percentages are however representative of opening to diversity. Saint Laurent reaches 44% of Asian and Black models (8% and 36% respectively) and Balmain is also very close with 42% of Asian and black models (9% and 33% respectively).
Most of the brands included privilege White Euro-American models. Among them, and with a percentage of 70% there are Alexander McQueen, Victoria Beckham, Courrèges and Chloé. Followed by Loewe with 63%, Schiaparelli with 61% and Yohji Yamamoto with 60%. Yamamoto is the only one, probably due to its Asian origin, to count 26% of Asian models on its runway. For all other brands, Asian models present between 8-18% of incidence.
Comparison between MFW and PFW
The runways of Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks are not so different from each other. More and more Euro-American models appear, consisting of more than 60% of appearances. Still, Asian models are present, but the number does not exceed 15%. Black models are around 25%, which is a promising number, especially within the French fashion scene which has always tended to be very exclusive and closed to diversity.
Seeing brands like Hermès in the first place for diversity is encouraging. This means that the brand’s identity constantly evolves and is aimed at greater socio-cultural openness.
