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July 17, 2007 | in:
Youth and the Runway
The runway is becomming a little less cramped with competition for models. It first started with models who were too skinny. Some designers railed against the changes, a smaller group was ambivalent while a larger number welcomed the changes altogether, though we’re sure they groused behind the scenes. In the past week, several groups that hold major runway shows have decided to increase the age of models participating in runway shows. The motivations behind raising the model age are as ambiguous as they are necessary. They range from a lack of maturity leading to eating disorders to child worker laws prohibiting certain types of work for 16 year olds and younger.
An article in news site In the News UK looks at issues with the weight of younger models and body mass index, noting that there are conflicting positions as to whether bmi alone is an accurate indicator. The article states:
But other experts suggested that body mass index (BMI), which is often used as a measure of fat, is “not necessarily an accurate measure” and “not foolproof” in identifying whether models are suffering from eating disorders such as Bulimia Nervosa.
Another issue is whether these girls under 16 are becoming sexualized to the point where it is exploitation. Some designers tend to push the envelope when it comes to what the create and the end result may be a 16 year old wearing something not made for a 16 year old.
The British Fashion Council is deciding now whether to ban models 16 years or younger, if the ban is successful we’re expecting to see similar bans throughout the fashion industry. Madrid was one of the first to ban models who were too skinny from working the runway and this seems to be in line with reasons for the weight ban. Although it is extremely doubtful, Paris and Milan may not be too far behind. Do you think models are too young? Leave comments.
Eva
Models should at least be 16 or older because younger girls don’t to be in that kind of enviorment on the run-way or even behide the runway scenes. They also shouldn’t be stick skinny either.
Well, on the one hand it seems that younger girls have an easier time staying small, just because they still have that glorious teenage (or pre-teen) metabolism, but on the other hand, it seems the ability to push the envelope is what makes some designers great, and you don’t want them limiting themselves because they don’t know who will be wearing it on the runway. Bottom line, I think that modeling agencies need to look further than the cheekbone and hipbone to determine who would make a good model – they need to have maturity, be resilient and confident as well, to ensure they don’t destroy themselves trying to be the best.