CFDA Releases Health Guidelines For Models

Filed Under: Fashion Smashion Models Diane von Furstenberg

There are new changes being made by the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

The CFDA released an updated set of their guidelines to ensure models are healthy before walking during NY Fashion Week.

Among the new set of rules is that no model under the age of 16 will be allowed to participate in fashion week.

The CFDA’s president Diane von Furstenberg and Steven Kolb released the following statement:

“The CFDA remains deeply committed to our message of Health As Beauty and Diversity during Fashion Week and throughout the year. Fashion Week has become a powerful voice which reaches millions of people across the globe and we should not underestimate the consequences of the messages that we send.

We have received pledges from all the top modeling agencies – including DNA, Elite, Ford, IMG, Marilyn, New York, Next, One, Supreme, Trump, Wilhelmina, and Women – that they will not send out any models under the age of 16 for shows.

Our newly launched Ambassador Program will continue this season with veteran models from DNA, IMG, Marilyn, Next, and Women providing advice and support to up-and-coming models.

We each have the power to impact the lives of women. Together, we can let the world know that diversity and Health Is Beauty are what we stand for.”

Check out the detailed set of guidelines after the jump!

What do U think of these new guidelines?

Guidelines:

• 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 modeling. And models who are receiving professional help for an eating disorder should not continue modeling 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; checking IDs to ensure that models are the appropriate age; providing regular breaks and rest. Consult the applicable labor laws found at www.labor.state.ny.us when working with models under sixteen.
• 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.

[Image via Getty Images.]

Tags: awareness, change, designers, diane von furstenberg, fashion, fashion week, health, model, runway

Posted: January 28, 2012 at 10:00 am