LVMH And Kering Join Forces To Ban Underage And Underweight Models

Two of fashion's largest conglomerates are teaming up to improve working conditions for models in the industry. As New York Fashion Week officially kicks off, Kering and LVMH announced the formation of a charter which seeks to protect models' health, well-being, and rights while working.

The charter states that female models must be a French size 34 (U.S. size 2) or above and male models must be a French size 44 or above. Size 32 women (U.S. size 0) will be banned from working with all Kering and LVMH brands in any capacity. Along with weight guidelines, the charter also forbids the hiring of models under the age of 16 for shows or shoots. Models between the ages of 16 - 18 years old are not permitted to work between 10 PM - 6 AM and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Related Article: Models Share Stories Of Sexual Assault In The Fashion Industry

Moving forward, both Kering and LVMH have agreed to only work with models who can present a medical certificate and additionally, will provide a psychologist/therapist on call for models during working hours.

"Respecting the dignity of all women has always been both a personal commitment for me and a priority for Kering as a Group. Through the establishment of this charter and our commitment to abide by its terms, we are once again manifesting the importance of this core value in a very concrete manner. We hope to inspire the entire industry to follow suit, thus making a real difference in the working conditions of fashion models industry-wide” François-Henri Pinault, CEO of Kering, said in a statement.

Related Article: See What Models Are Wearing To The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Casting

As for the fashion houses implementing these changes, Kering owns Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Stella McCartney and many more while LVMH owns Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior Couture, Céline, Marc Jacobs and more. Considering both the industry influence and the number of brands the luxury conglomerates own, the charter will undoubtedly pave the way for much of the fashion industry.

The long-overdue guidelines, which will go into effect immediately, follow France's ban of excessively thin models and James Scully's disturbing abuse allegations at model castings last season.

Related Article: 10 Celebs And How They Stay In Shape

From: Harper's Bazaar US