Fashion Industry Told to Grow Up

by Louise Livesey // 22 May 2007, 10:11

The Model Health Inquiry has told the fashion industry that it needs to:

just grow up and accept that it is a real industry and to look after the health and safety of the people who work within it

From The Guardian


The committee, which includes designers (Betty Jackson and Giles Deacon), models (Erin O'Connor), managers (Sarah Doukas from Storm), psychologists (Adrienne Key, the Priory Hospital) and is chaired by Lady Kingsmill, was created last March and is focussing on six key areas

  • Number of hours worked by models - currently no limits as models sign opt-out of the European Working Time Directive. And their health and safety is also an issue:

  • "the panel has heard some terrible anecdotes from models, such as girls being taken out for late-night shoots in the middle of nowhere, and then left there, with no money for a taxi home."

    There are almost no regulations regarding models' working conditions and Lady Kingsmill said the panel had heard "some terrible anecdotes from models, such as girls being taken out for late-night shoots in the middle of nowhere, and then left there, with no money for a taxi home."


  • Diet and eating habits

  • Drug and alcohol habits

  • The age of models working

  • The industry's preference for slim models - including examining the subconcious belief that there is a link between the slimness of the model and the prestige of the label or magazine.

  • Pastoral care and education available to the models when working
  • Reclaiming The F-Word

    Founder of The F-Word, Catherine Redfern, has co-authored a new book with Kristin Aune. Find out more at the Reclaiming The F-Word website.

    Feminist bloggers

    There are plenty of fantastic UK feminist bloggers around. For a fantastic introduction to feminist blogging, go to the Carnival of Feminists website, which showcases the finest feminist posts from around the blogsphere, including many from UK blogs.

    Write for us!

    Got something to say? Something to review? News to discuss? Well we want to hear from you! Click here for more info

    • The F-Word Feeds
    • #
    • #