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 London Fashion Week (LFW)
Sep 14-19, 2008 |
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Mayor of London Boris Johnson says fashion industry part of London's creative success
 With London Fashion Week set to begin on Sunday September 14, 2008, Mayor of London Boris Johnson has restated his commitment to the fashion industry and the need to maintain a high profile platform that reinforces the capital's international reputation for cutting edge fashion.
The Mayor said: 'Fashion is a key part of London's creative success story and the capital needs to have a fashion week, in order to provide a platform for successful and emerging British talent, as well an international presence alongside the other key fashion capitals of New York, Paris and Milan.'
On the issue of model health, the Mayor said: 'I am absolutely in support of improving conditions for models and establishing a healthier working environment. Recommendations from the excellent Model Health Inquiry have already been put in place and my office continues to work with the British Fashion Council and London Fashion Week to build on the progress being made.'
Since the Model Health Inquiry models under 16 years old have been banned from catwalks in London Fashion Week and healthy food backstage is now a contractual requirement. Top model Erin O'Connor has developed a model 'sanctuary', which has been established to offer advice and support for models during London Fashion Week and a range organisations, including Equity, are also ready to represent models' interests.
On the call for model certification by Assembly Member Dee Doocey, the Mayor believes there are several reasons why it cannot be introduced, including models themselves, saying it would not be workable and concerns raised about individuals' right to privacy.
He added: 'This does not mean that we are ignoring the issue and it is important that models themselves and others in the fashion industry speak out. The more industry voices that speak out, the more likely there will be genuine culture change. The Model Health Inquiry is relatively recent, but it is helping keep the important issue of young women's health on the agenda. Funding for London Fashion Week however is not conditional on model health certificates. I will listen to all sides of the argument and consider any evidence presented to me, and I look forward to meeting with the British Fashion Council, as well as Dee Doocey.'
The Model Health Inquiry was established by the British Fashion Council (BFC) on 23 March 2007, in response to concerns about the health of models on the catwalks at London Fashion Week. Details can be found at: www.modelhealthinquiry.com |
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