In the midst of New York Fashion Week, models, unions and lawmakers are rallying to put regulations in place to protect those in the modeling industry.
The Model Alliance was joined by supermodels Karen Elson, Ambra Battilana-Gutierrez and Kaja Sokola — who were both abused by Harvey Weinstein — as well as State Senator Brad Hoylman and the Freelancers’ Union on Sept. 12 to call for the pro-labor legislation that would regulate predatory management agencies that currently operate without oversight.
As a $2.5 trillion global industry, the fashion industry employed 4.6 percent of New York City’s workforce pre-pandemic. Despite this, basic labor practices are not present, affecting not just models but also stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists, influences and other creative artists. The Fashion Workers Act – which passed the Senate Labor Committee before the State Legislative session ended earlier this year – would close this loophole and provide a regulatory framework for management agencies.
