Grey finds its way to the ramp

Older women may have greater buying power than Gen Z but inclusivity still isn't on everyone's mind in the fashion world

- Manish Mishra

The recent haute couture week in Paris was one of those rare grand fashion showcases to have more older women walk the runway. From Rahul Mishra to Balenciaga and Chanel, brands attempted to balance their obsessive love for Gen Z shoppers by appealing to older consumers who have long been committed buyers of couture.

Around the same time, two editions of the fashion magazine Vogue celebrated Indian superstars Rekha, 68, and Zeenat Aman, 71, on their covers. A few months earlier, the Oscar-winning Michelle Yeoh, 60, became the new face of the luxury brand La Mer. Is the world of fashion finally embracing the 45-plus woman? Or is it just more tokenism, like the inclusion of a few plus-size models on the ramp? There is reason to hope that a change is under way in fashion's relationship with age, given the discussions that have been taking place about the industry not moving forward fast enough on its promise of inclusivity.