Is fashion now exclusively for billionaires? Milan, Italy — As fashion week unfolds, a peculiar sight emerges: a sea of photographers vying for shots of emaciated models donning outdated ensembles. Amidst this spectacle, Priscilla Chan, alongside her husband, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, strides into the Prada show, donning a €11,500 ($13,000) Prada shearling coat with a blonde collar. This scenario prompts a profound question: Who is fashion truly for? Fashion's omnipresence and accessibility have evolved, mirroring pop music's popularity through livestreaming and celebrity-driven trends. The industry's adaptation to platforms like TikTok and Instagram has cultivated a generation of fashion-savvy observers, sparking debates about brands' moves. However, the soaring prices of luxury items, such as a Chanel bag's price hike from $5,800 in 2019 to $10,800 in 2024, and the Spring 2025 Versace collection's tens of thousands of dollars dresses, highlight a stark reality: most people discussing fashion can't afford these products. This disconnect raises concerns about the industry's focus and its appeal to the elite. The Prada show, with its classic feminine manifesto, showcased the rapid pace of modern womanhood, blending past and present. Yet, the presence of billionaires like Zuckerberg and Chan at fashion events like Milan's raises eyebrows. The surge in billionaires' wealth, as evidenced by Zuckerberg's net worth skyrocketing from $72 billion to $177 billion, has led to a new playground for America's technocrats, who are drawn to fashion's allure. Miuccia Prada, a billionaire herself, acknowledges the industry's focus on wealthy clients, stating, 'We are designing for rich people.' The tension between fashion's grand ideas and its oblivious consumers adds to its allure, making it a fascinating contradiction rather than a problem. Designers like Glenn Martens embrace this democratization, while others, like Maria Grazia Chiuri, ignore social media to create clothes that resonate with actual clients. Jil Sander and Marni's designers, Simone Bellotti and Meryll Rogge, prioritize creating clothes that are essential and wearable, transcending social media trends. The industry's evolution continues, with brands like Bottega Veneta and Armani catering to a diverse audience, from the affluent to the budget-conscious, ensuring fashion remains accessible and relevant to all.
