Iconic fashion designer and co-president of the CFDA Diane Von Furstenberg has just issued a warning about the employment of models. In an open letter stressing the important of health, diversity, and age appropriateness, Furstenberg urges designers to consider the emotional and physical well being of models when casting for shows. ”Let’s remember that beauty is health and health is beauty,” she says, ”it is also important to remember that beauty is diversity and as an industry, we stand by these two principles.” This warning comes as part of the fashion world’s marked effort to challenge notions of beauty and open its doors to models from all walks of life, with last year seeing an increase in the amount of Black, Asian, plus sized, street cast and transgender models take to the catwalk and this year’s celebration of silver haired luminaries, Joni Mitchell and Joan Didion. Let’s hope thing stay this way.
Credits
Photography David Shankbone