This year’s official list of nominees for the influential Council of Fashion Designers of America awards was more than 80% male. This is not a fluke as the biggest names in fashion have always been men. High fashion models are nearly always female, however, they still only make a fraction of the money that the fashion industry generates.
Statistics show that 95% of all students enrolled in college major in fashion design are women. Strangely enough this ratio flip-flops when you compare it to the number of successful designers. In other words, women are some of the fashion industry’s biggest financial contributors, but they receive little of the reward. The only women nominated for a Council of Fashion Designers of America award this year are Pamela Love, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. Considering the fact that the twins collaborate on the same fashion line, they can technically be counted as one nomination.
Things were not always this way in the fashion world. Until the end of the 20th century most designers, dressmakers and other workers involved in fashion were women. It wasn’t until men started to realize that there was lots of money to be made from the clothing industry that they began to take over. Ever since then, women have continued to be slowly pushed out. Although some prominent figures in the fashion industry have taken notice and even voiced their concerns, little has been done. The CFDA awards may only happen once a year, however, this event is representative of the entire fashion industry as a whole
