Since time immemorial, the fashion industry has been plagued by issues ranging from body image to racial discrimination and transphobia. Recent instances, like the sexual harassment allegations made against international fashion photographers Bruce Weber, Mario Testino, Patrick Demarchelier and stylist Karl Templer have brought to light the abuse and bullying that models go through. In an attempt to counter such misconduct, rival luxury conglomerates LVMH and Kering have joined hands to launch a wellness website for models Wecareformodels.com — that aims to empower models with physical and mental well-being while also bring about transparency in the industry.
“The reality is that everybody that is a part of this community has to be accountable, we have to work together as a team, and that includes the houses, the designers, the business people, the agencies, the models themselves and the families that support them. We as an entire community working in the fashion industry must be responsible on every level to look out for each other and keep each other safe,” believes Stella McCartney, who shares her vision on the website.
We Care For Models focuses on three crucial aspects that aims to help models and fashion professionals: a charter on the working relations with fashion models and their well-being; a guide to eating balanced meals all year round, especially during fashion week; a how-to manual on managing stress.
“I believe it is absolutely essential that key players in the fashion industry drive fresh momentum and support actions with positive impact for society as a whole,” says Maria Grazia Chiuri, artistic director of women’s collections at Christian Dior Couture, in support of the movement.
This bold move shows how the fashion industry is becoming more sensitive towards addressing the elephant in the room after stories of models — like Edie Campbell, who penned an open letter on the abuse she suffered — surfaced on how they were starving themselves to fit the ’34-inch hip, 24-inch waist, 32 bust’ bill.
Casting director James Scully’s revelation on Instagram of how Balenciaga’s casting directors reportedly left over 150 girls waiting in the dark for over three hours while they went to eat lunch was a horrifying and appalling incident that sparked off a huge debate in the industry of the ongoing misconduct that models were facing.
Supermodel Gigi Hadid has not been spared from the ridicule either — after being criticised for being “too skinny” when she was walking the ramp at the recently-concluded New York Fashion Week, Gigi slammed the body-shamers on Twitter by revealing that she was suffering from Hashimoto’s disease, a thyroid disorder which was the reason for her fluctuating weight.
For those of you so determined to come up w why my body has changed over the years, you may not know that when I started @ 17 I was not yet diagnosed w/Hashimoto’s disease; those of u who called me “too big for the industry” were seeing inflammation & water retention due to that.
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) February 11, 2018
Although stress & excessive travel can also affect the body, I have always eaten the same, my body just handles it differently now that my health is better. I may be “too skinny” for u, honestly this skinny isn’t what I want to be, but I feel healthier internally and (cont)
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) February 11, 2018
(cont) am still learning and growing with my body everyday, as everyone is.
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) February 11, 2018
I will not further explain the way my body looks, just as anyone, with a body type that doesnt suit ur “beauty” expectation, shouldnt have to. Not to judge others, but drugs are not my thing, stop putting me in that box just because u dont understand the way my body has matured.
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) February 11, 2018
Either you’re too skinny or you’re too fat — the struggle doesn’t end. But leading designers Prabal Gurung and Christian Siriano are pushing for body positivity by having plus-size models like Ashley Graham and Sabina Karlsson walk for their Fall 2018 shows at New York Fashion Week.
Gender fluidity is being openly accepted too — this season marked the debut of 10-year-old self-proclaimed drag star, Desmond Napoles, aka Desmond Is Amazing, who also champions LGBTQ rights. Closer to home, Lakme Fashion Week saw transgender model Anjali Lama walking the ramp for leading designers like Anita Dongre, Tarun Tahiliani and Anamika Khanna.
Though this is dealing with just the tip of the iceberg, the good news is that the fashion fraternity is becoming more open and accepting of the underlying issues that have beset the industry for so many years by creating awareness about it. #TimesUp
