I've noted an interesting phenomenon.

I shoot female models mostly and I believe that they are all attractive.
When I upload them I generally get a mild number of views, in the order of 10-20.

BUT if I upload a model wearing a bikini all of a sudden the views skyrocket!
One file recently garnered over 200 views the first day it went live.

I can only surmise from this that most designers are heterosexual males 

THAT would explain the lack of sales for these images 

it is unlikely that a fashion designer will buy generic RF images from stock sites , as they are more interested in photos of next season's design of their clothes.

but to answer your question:
 if you mean designers as in the fashion trade   , historically the most famous ones seem to give the impression that they are all male ie YSLaurent, KLagerfeld, RLauren,etc..
in magazines listing their choices of top designers, 6 of 10 are male.

speaking personally from within my own backyard:
 from the 2006 FM&D, my favourite show was by Myco Anna. the works of a designer from our very own Quebec City ... Christiane Garant. And most recently, being new here in Halifax, i discovered Bamboo fashions is the lovely work of Angie LeMont. Two uniquely talented, young designers (REMEMBER THEM, they'll be famous one day!!!  Canada ey?? )

most of these fashion designers, as you may have already found out when you meet them at receptions of trade shows, are also photographers ( or have their own photographers and /or network with those  on spec ). 

but yes, the majority APPEARS to be male, but only because the males tend to make the most noise, and by design, are more flamboyantly "cocky" to attraction the most attention   ...    like roosters

Thanks for that observation, tan510jomast.

Actually no, by designers I was referring to those that purchase stock images to design websites, brochures, print advertisements etc, etc.

I would be foolish to believe that fashion designers would need anything other than shots or their own 'next big thing', whatever that might be.

Cheers,

Joseph

no problem, but it was good to read your topic. you gave me an idea to my latest blog on DT.
cheers. and good luck to your fashion work.

but yes, the majority APPEARS to be male, but only because the males tend to make the most noise, and by design, are more flamboyantly "cocky" to attraction the most attention   ...    like roosters

LOL

LOL!  Always more ideas for spamming

The designers I know in my CN are pretty evenly split between men and women.  But I think the low prices of micro attract many, many people who are not professional designers.  Just folks who like to look and and occasionally purchase photos.  A lot of those non-designers (in addition to male designers) may be adding to your views of bikini women.