This is exactly the sort of crap you'd expect from Ken Livingstone;
London Fashion Week could lose almost £4.3 million in funding from Ken Livingstone unless it agrees to do more to help discourage the use of ultra-skinny models, it emerged today.
The British Fashion Council, which runs the event, could lose its grant unless it brings in recommendations made by the Model Health Inquiry, set up to tackle the problem of "size-zero" models.
The inquiry called for compulsory medical certificates for models, random drug testing and criminal record checks on agencies working with under-16s.
The London Development Agency has agreed £4.28 million for the fashion industry over the next three years.
But the Mayor revealed the deal will have a "break clause" forcing the British Fashion Council to meet a series of milestones, not yet agreed, if it is to keep the cash. In a written answer to Dee Doocey, a Liberal Democrat London Assembly member, the Mayor said: "Terms are being discussed with the fashion council.
"LDA lawyers have written into the grant agreement a break clause should the BFC not clearly make its best efforts to implement the recommendations of the Model Health Inquiry."
The inquiry, led by Baroness Kingsmill, reported last month and called for girls under 16 to be banned from the catwalk - as happened during last month's fashion week. It also suggested a mentor scheme for models, a health education programme and eating disorder helpline and an investigation into working conditions. Other recommendations included setting up an independent models' trade union. But the report failed to call for a full ban on size-zero models.
The London Development Agency will draw up an action plan with the British Fashion Council, whose spokeswoman said: "We have already acted on some recommendations and it is our intention to act on all within our remit."
A spokesman for the agency said: "We are committed to working with the industry, models, health professionals and employment law experts to improve working conditions and protect health."
London Fashion Week could lose almost £4.3 million in funding from Ken Livingstone unless it agrees to do more to help discourage the use of ultra-skinny models, it emerged today.
The British Fashion Council, which runs the event, could lose its grant unless it brings in recommendations made by the Model Health Inquiry, set up to tackle the problem of "size-zero" models.
The inquiry called for compulsory medical certificates for models, random drug testing and criminal record checks on agencies working with under-16s.
The London Development Agency has agreed £4.28 million for the fashion industry over the next three years.
But the Mayor revealed the deal will have a "break clause" forcing the British Fashion Council to meet a series of milestones, not yet agreed, if it is to keep the cash. In a written answer to Dee Doocey, a Liberal Democrat London Assembly member, the Mayor said: "Terms are being discussed with the fashion council.
"LDA lawyers have written into the grant agreement a break clause should the BFC not clearly make its best efforts to implement the recommendations of the Model Health Inquiry."
The inquiry, led by Baroness Kingsmill, reported last month and called for girls under 16 to be banned from the catwalk - as happened during last month's fashion week. It also suggested a mentor scheme for models, a health education programme and eating disorder helpline and an investigation into working conditions. Other recommendations included setting up an independent models' trade union. But the report failed to call for a full ban on size-zero models.
The London Development Agency will draw up an action plan with the British Fashion Council, whose spokeswoman said: "We have already acted on some recommendations and it is our intention to act on all within our remit."
A spokesman for the agency said: "We are committed to working with the industry, models, health professionals and employment law experts to improve working conditions and protect health."
I was trying not to log on here while away but someone mentioned this had been posted..
This is such a load of rubbish from him, jumping on a bandwagon with only 3 wheels and with no knowledge, insight or intelligence.
The actual report may still be on line but if not I have a copy if anyone wants to see it, but the bottom line is that we are all pretty healthy, have a really great time and nothing much has changed. LFW and the other SS08s went by this year with no real hassles, no special checks. Shame about the arbitrary age fiasco though. Some not so good agencies are taking a bit more care of some of their models but the good ones always have. As in any walk of life, some models will have some problems.
The press always gun for poor Lily C but this season had more their mouths open than their notebooks, at seeing her and the words flat chested poor waifs, never came. Those that saw her will know what I mean:)
There are always improvements can be made but they should be at the grass roots level like not expecting a model to go for a fitting in a strange foreign town late at night by public transport, like having a proper mentoring system, like understanding each model as a person, not as a picture on the board. Some do, some dont. The report did have some good points in that we all relate to, but read it and take it in conext and also remember it had to be slanted a certain way to pacify the baying idiots.
Basically though, we are sick of being used as political and moral footballs in this so called skinny dying poor models cr***p.
Alicia
xxx
ahhh that feels better :)
This is such a load of rubbish from him, jumping on a bandwagon with only 3 wheels and with no knowledge, insight or intelligence.
The actual report may still be on line but if not I have a copy if anyone wants to see it, but the bottom line is that we are all pretty healthy, have a really great time and nothing much has changed. LFW and the other SS08s went by this year with no real hassles, no special checks. Shame about the arbitrary age fiasco though. Some not so good agencies are taking a bit more care of some of their models but the good ones always have. As in any walk of life, some models will have some problems.
The press always gun for poor Lily C but this season had more their mouths open than their notebooks, at seeing her and the words flat chested poor waifs, never came. Those that saw her will know what I mean:)
There are always improvements can be made but they should be at the grass roots level like not expecting a model to go for a fitting in a strange foreign town late at night by public transport, like having a proper mentoring system, like understanding each model as a person, not as a picture on the board. Some do, some dont. The report did have some good points in that we all relate to, but read it and take it in conext and also remember it had to be slanted a certain way to pacify the baying idiots.
Basically though, we are sick of being used as political and moral footballs in this so called skinny dying poor models cr***p.
Alicia
xxx
ahhh that feels better :)
I actually think models are generally a lot healthier, and that a healthy image is promoted much more heavily then back in, say, the 90s. They don't need to go to all these measures and make things out to be worse than they are. Alicia's account of how agencies treat their models differently is interesting as well - safety should be a major concern and agencies should take care of their models.
It seems that with anything these days, there's some form of reverse-discrimination; like a female police officer getting accepted over a male, regardless of who's more equipped for the job, just because she's female. Never mind if you're a great model, you have to be a certain weight or race in an attempt to prove that it's "fair" and responsible.
It seems that with anything these days, there's some form of reverse-discrimination; like a female police officer getting accepted over a male, regardless of who's more equipped for the job, just because she's female. Never mind if you're a great model, you have to be a certain weight or race in an attempt to prove that it's "fair" and responsible.
i think its important that working conditions are improved for models and think that kids under 16 shouldn't be modelling on a catwalk! While a lot of models may be healthy, there are a number who are not, who have eating disorders and i think that mentoring and help for them is a great idea. its sad how everything is politicised thes days but its like that in a lot of industries, not just modelling...
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