The fashion industry may be admired around the world, but historically it’s not been seen as one of the ‘nice guys’. Constantly criticised for fuelling eating disorders and encouraging the sexulisation of children, it doesn’t paint the prettiest of pictures.
Cast your mind back to last summer, when you might remember the storm over the French edition of Vogue publishing a 15 page spread of ten year old model, Thylane Lena-Rose Blondeau. The pictures show Tylane wearing heavy makeup and, in one shot, a dress with a neckline plunging down to her waist. The backlash to these images was intense, with strongest criticism coming from across the channel, where parent groups and UK MPs expressed outrage and PM David Cameron called for more stringent rules on the depiction of children in advertising.
But this week, Vogue is making the headlines for all the right reasons. 19 editors of Vogue from around the world have come together to sign a 'health pact', to be published in their June editions. The pact outlines that they will only work with models who, in their view, "are healthy and help to promote a healthy body image". This means they’ll no longer use models under the age of 16 or those who they think may have an eating disorder.
This step up in responsibility has impacts in the supply chain, too. Vogue is asking modelling agencies not to send them underage girls, requesting casting directors to check models' ages when casting shoots, and calling for healthier backstage working conditions at shows and shoots. This is unprecedented – and incredibly significant for the sector. We can only hope that Vogue’s bold stand will create a ripple affect throughout an industry that for too long has flustered over how to show style with substance.
