Many of the world’s leading fashion designers for example Donna Karan, Karl Lagerfeld, or Vivienne Westwood, to name but a few, are in their 60s, 70s, even 80s, yet create clothes that the fashion industry almost exclusively targets at women in their 20s and 30s.
It almost seems as though this contradiction, which is at the heart of the industry, is not worth a comment. It would be a breakthrough moment if the fashion media ensured the models used to promote the clothes, reflected the age of the designer as well as that of their target audience.
Frances Corner OBE is a cross-sector leader shaping the future of education, culture, fashion and mental health.
Previously Vice-Chancellor of Goldsmiths and Head of London College of Fashion, Frances now serves as Chair of the Maudsley Charity. Additionally, Frances advises institutions, organisations and leaders on creative, values-led transformation grounded in care, sustainability and civic purpose.
