Models Direct: New Guidelines Ensure Models Are Treated Well During Fashion Week

Jan. 31, 2011 - PRLog -- Queen of the wrap dress and President of CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America), von Furstenberg has issued new guidelines on behalf of the CFDA that will make sure all models are treated well during fashion week

Not only do the guidelines help create awareness of eating disorders in the fashion industry, but they also aim to create a healthy and happy backstage environment by ensuring that it is smoke and alcohol free and that models are provided with healthy meals, snacks, and water both backstage and at shoots.

CFDA says: “Although we cannot fully assume responsibility for an issue that is as complex as eating disorders and that occurs in many walks of life, the fashion industry can begin a campaign of awareness and create an atmosphere that supports the well-being of these young women.”

Speaking to Racked, von Furstenberg said: “Our choices can have positive consequences on the lives of women. A healthy mind in a healthy body is a healthy life! Choose health and diversity.”

The full set of guidelines are as follows:

•   Educate the industry to identify the early warning signs in an individual at risk of developing an eating disorder.

•   Encourage models who may have an eating disorder to seek professional help in order to continue modelling. And models who are receiving professional help for an eating disorder should not continue modelling without that professional's approval.

•   Develop workshops for the industry (including models and their families), on the nature of eating disorders, how they arise, how we identify and treat them, and complications if they are untreated.

•   Support the well-being of younger individuals by not hiring models under the age of sixteen for runway shows; not allowing models under the age of eighteen to work past midnight at fittings or shoots; and providing regular breaks and rest.

•   Supply healthy meals, snacks, and water backstage and at shoots and provide nutrition and fitness education.

•   Promote a healthy backstage environment by raising the awareness of the impact of smoking and tobacco-related disease among women, ensuring a smoke-free environment, and address underage drinking by prohibiting alcohol.

We at Models Direct (http://www.modelsdirect.com) think that the fashion industry enforcing these guidelines is great news for our models.

After all, we know how important it is to support the wellbeing of all our models and think it is a fantastic move to recognise and address these wide-spread concerns in a comprehensive set of guidelines.

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