From Asia to the World: Models Who Walked Paris and Milan FW26
The growing presence of Asian models in international runways points to a lasting shift in how global fashion now defines visibility and influence
From breakthrough to baseline
During Paris and Milan FW26, Asian faces appeared so frequently on the runways that their presence no longer registered as noteworthy. Models from across East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia opened and closed shows, and reappeared throughout collections. What once would have been framed as progress now reads as normal.
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Asian representation on global runways has expanded markedly in recent seasons, moving beyond the era of token casting. Where fashion once relied on a narrow and often interchangeable idea of Asian beauty, this season reflected a broader and more diverse range of faces, styles, and identities.
Major fashion houses play a visible role in that evolution. Brands such as Dior, Prada, and Saint Laurent now frequently feature Asian models and celebrities, particularly from South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, and China.
No longer defined by narratives
Their presence extends beyond runway appearances to front-row seating, campaigns, and long-term brand partnerships. The strategy aligns with a younger, international audience that engages with fashion as culture rather than aspiration alone.
Across Paris and Milan, Asian models were not confined to specific silhouettes or narratives. They were styled across tailoring, eveningwear, and conceptual looks without being positioned as novelties.
A Chinese model opening a show or an Indonesian face returning for multiple looks passed without comment, which underscored how far casting norms have shifted. Representation, in this context, no longer needs explanation.
A meaningful normalization
For many in the audience, particularly Asian creatives and industry figures, the impact was resonant. Seeing familiar faces occupy spaces that once excluded them carried weight, even when the industry itself treated it as routine.
If earlier periods focused on visibility, this moment suggests a move toward integration. The Asian models who walked in Paris and Milan this season were participants in an industry slowly adjusting its image of who fashion is for and who it is shaped by.
