Vogue magazine, perhaps the world's top arbiter of style, is making a statement about its own models: Too young and too thin is no longer in.
(AP-Yonhap News)
The 19 editors of Vogue magazines around the world made a pact to project the image of healthy models, according to a Conde Nast International announcement Thursday.
They agreed to ``not knowingly work with models under the age of 16 or who appear to have an eating disorder,'' and said they will ask casting directors to check IDs at photo shoots and fashion shows and for ad campaigns.
The move is an important one for the fashion world, said former model Sara Ziff, who was discovered at 14 and has since founded The Model Alliance, dedicated to improving the working conditions of models and persuading the industry to take better care of its young.
``Most editions of Vogue regularly hire models who are minors, so for Vogue to commit to no longer using models under the age of 16 marks an evolution in the industry,'' she said. ``We hope other magazines and fashion brands will follow Vogue's impressive lead.''
American, French, Chinese and British editions of the fashion glossies are among those that will start following the new guidelines with their June issues; the Japanese edition will begin with its July book.
``Vogue believes that good health is beautiful. Vogue Editors around the world want the magazines to reflect their commitment to the health of the models who appear on the pages and the well-being of their readers,'' said Conde Nast International Chairman Jonathan Newhouse in a statement.
Models' health _ and especially their weight _ has been a lightning rod the past few years, especially after the death of two models from apparent complications from eating disorders in 2006-07, but the focus, until now, has been on runway fashion shows.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America adopted a voluntary initiative in 2007, which emphasizes age minimums and healthy working environments during New York Fashion Week, and London Fashion Week designers sign a contract with the British Fashion Council to use models who are at least 16.
The primary fashion organizations in Italy and Spain banned catwalk models who fall below a certain Body Mass Index level, and earlier this year, Israel's government passed an anti-skinny-model law.
보그 패션잡지,'너무 마른女 모델로 안써!'
세계적인 패션 월간지 보그는 3일(현지시간) 너무 어리거나 너무 마른 모델을 잡지에 싣지 않겠다고 선언했다.
이 잡지의 전 세계 19개 언어판 편집장들은 이날 잡지를 발행하는 출판사 콩데 나스트 인터내셔널 명의의 발표를 통해 16세 이상의 `건강한' 모델만을 잡지에 싣도록 하겠다고 밝혔다.
이들은 "우리의 관점에서 건강하고 건강한 신체이미지를 조장할 수 있는 모델들 과 일할 것"이라고 다짐했다.
이들은 이 새로운 기준이 6월호부터 적용될 것이라고 밝혔다.
편집장들은 또 모델 에이전시들에 너무 나이 어린 모델들을 보내지 말고, 사진 촬영에 앞서 모델의 신분증을 확인할 것을 요청하기로 했다.
콩데 나스트 인터내셔널의 조너선 뉴하우스 회장은 성명에서 "보그는 건강한 몸이 아름답다고 생각한다"면서 "전세계 편집장들은 보그지가 잡지에 실리는 모델의 건강과 독자의 행복에 기여하기를 원한다"고 말했다.
지난 2006∼7년 모델 2명이 거식증으로 인한 부작용으로 숨진 사건이 발생한 후 패션업계의 이른바 `말라깽이' 모델 선호 관행이 전 세계적으로 문제가 돼왔다.