Montreal Bans Under 16 and Size Zero Models

14-10-2007 03:01

Montreal Fashion Week has become the latest fashion event to ban models under the age of 16 and organisers have even vowed to remove models from shows if they appear to have an eating disorder.

The move follows an increasing pressure from the public and those within the industry to make changes to protect the health of model and already at least six women were dropped from the show as a result of the new rules.

In a statement issued last week, organizers said they were "making every effort to ensure models whose body mass index appears low or could indicate a problem with anorexia, be withdrawn from shows and directed to professional help in the areas of nutrition or eating disorders."

"We are spearheading this campaign because the health of our young people is important to us and we wish to make a positive contribution to the challenges of public health," said Chantal Durivage, co-president of Sensation Mode, organizers of Montreal Fashion Week.

Durivage also hopes that other shows will follow in their footsteps: "We are intent on having measures that foster this objective in place by 2008, in major events like the Montreal and Toronto fashion and design festivals as well as Montreal Fashion Week," she added.

Earlier this week Female First reported that London Fashion Week funding is under threat unless organisers take action to look after models better.

UK Trade & Investment, a government body that sponsors the international buyers programme, announced they will withdraw hundred of thousands of pounds of funding if the event neglects it's duty to look after the health of models.

Last month under 16 models were banned from London Fashion Week after a report by the model health inquiry reccomended the action be taken.

Baroness Kingsmill, chair of the panel, said: "There was strongly expressed concern that it is profoundly inappropriate that girls under 16 under the age of consent should be portrayed as adult women. The risk of sexualising these children was high and designers could risk charges of sexual exploitation."

Caz Moss- Female First
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