By 
I would like to return to the topic of diversity, this time focusing on men’s runways through a selection of some of the most influential maisons showcased during Milan Men’s Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2027. The sample includes Prada, Giorgio Armani, Louis Vuitton and Dior: two Italian and two French luxury houses, all internationally renowned yet characterised by different casting approaches.
Before presenting the findings, I would like to clarify that this analysis was carried out by counting the models who walked for Prada, Giorgio Armani, Louis Vuitton and Dior during Milan Men’s Fashion Week SS27. The selected brands are not intended to represent the entire fashion week, but rather to provide a meaningful sample of four iconic maisons. The categories used (White, Black, Asian and Brown) are observational classifications employed exclusively for the statistical analysis of casting composition and should not be interpreted as an attempt to classify or define the personal identities of the models.
A Snapshot of Diversity in SS27
The overall results confirm an established trend rather than a surprising one. Of the 303 models analysed, 56.4% were White, 23.1% Black, 13.2% Asian and 7.3% Brown. Greater ethnic diversity has become a structural feature across all the maisons examined: none relied exclusively on Western-looking models, as was more common several years ago before diversity and inclusion became central issues for both luxury brands and public opinion. Today, the question is no longer whether diversity exists, but how each brand interprets it. Casting has become one of the ways through which every maison communicates its identity and values.
Within this context, Louis Vuitton stands out as the only brand in the sample where Black models represent the largest group (41%), surpassing White models (37%). This is not merely a numerical outcome, but reflects a clear aesthetic and cultural direction aligned with the maison’s global positioning and its vision of an increasingly international and diverse masculinity.
The Louis Vuitton Case
While Louis Vuitton represents the clearest example of an internationally diverse casting strategy, Prada, Giorgio Armani and Dior maintain a stronger prevalence of White models, each reaching or exceeding 60%. Their castings remain closer to the historical codes of European luxury and to a more exclusive aesthetic.
Uneven Inclusion
Within the overall diversity of the sample, Black models account for 23%, compared with 13% Asian models and just 7% Brown models. This suggests that diversity has expanded, although not evenly across all groups represented on the runway.
Diversity as a Tool of Brand Identity
SS27 demonstrates that diversity is no longer an exception or simply a communication exercise. It is no longer a temporary trend or an attempt to differentiate from competitors. Instead, diversity has become one of the tools through which brands build their identity. Casting tells us not only who walks the runway, but also the audience each maison seeks to reach and the cultural narrative it intends to project.
The figures also show that there is no single model of inclusion: every brand builds its own balance between target market and creative identity. This finding reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend about five years ago. He argued that brands’ diversity policies were mainly marketing strategies designed to generate awareness and attention. The results of this analysis suggest a different picture: diversity no longer appears to be merely a communication strategy, but rather a structural element of the language through which maisons shape their identity.
It remains to be seen whether this balance will continue to strengthen in future seasons or whether we will witness a return to more homogeneous castings. For the moment, Milan Men’s Fashion Week SS27 confirms that diversity has moved beyond being a passing trend and has become one of the key instruments through which luxury fashion builds its global narrative.
