LVMH and Kering, the rival conglomerates who control the lion’s share of the world’s biggest luxury labels, have entered into an agreement to improve industry habits and help discourage troubling trends like the preference for unhealthily thin models. The decision comes on the heels of a wider French law set to take effect at the beginning of October, requiring models to produce a medical certificate proving they’re healthy before they’re allowed to work.
In addition, the agreement also bans the labels represented by LVMH and Kering, including Dior, Saint Laurent, Gucci and Louis Vuitton, from working with models below a US size 0, or anyone underage.
Instrumental in this positive new charter is casting director James Scully, who has long campaigned for model’s rights. Earlier this year Scully cast a light on the industry’s systemic problems when he publicly shamed Balenciaga’s casting directors for mistreating their models. With his determination to make real change, he rallied Francois Pinault and Antonine Arnault, the directors of LVMH and Kering, to sit down and agree on the implementation of the new regulations.
On the homepage of the LVMH website, a message written by Arnault introduces the new measures stating, “Respecting the dignity of every man and woman is at the heart of the Group’s values. Having always cared for the well-being of models, LVMH feels that it has a specific responsibility, as leader in the industry, to go one step further with their brands….This charter, which is applicable worldwide, reflects high standards of integrity, responsibility and respect for those concerned.”
Scully acknowledged on an Instagram message posted yesterday that he was “humbled at the amazing urgency and determination that both groups acted upon to make this happen so swiftly.”As one of the first instances of real action being taken by industry leaders, this is promising news for models working in such competitive environments, as well as consumers, who have long called for a more accurate representation of typical body types.