After the models arrived in their droves, for what was the craziest model casting session Vauxhall Fashion Scout has ever seen, we thought it was only right that we give something back...
After the saddening news of the forced closure of the safe-haven that is the Model Sanctuary- the spotlight has been on the welfare of the hundreds of long legged guys and girls that will be parading up and down the catwalks at London Fashion Week. Model Equity is a long standing union who has recently partnered with the Association of Model Agents, the British Fashion Council, and the Greater London Authority to create the Model Programme for London Fashion Week (LFW).
Model Equity were at the model casting providing support and a chance to speak to the models before everything really kicks off tomorrow for London Fashion Week.
Our amazing blog editor Cass Gowing interviewed Victoria Keon-Cohen at Model Equity about the up and downs or fashion week, the Model Equity plans for this season's models and how the company plans to progress in the future...
Vauxhall Fashion Scout: Hi Victoria, Thank you so much for being part of Vauxhall Fashion Scout's Model Casting. For those that don't know - What is your ethos as a company?
Victoria: Our aim in establishing models’
representation at Equity is to foster an environment where equality, education
and protection are central values. We are working to implement proper
regulations to protect models, young and old, male and female, foreign and
those based in London for a safer and healthier workplace.
VFS: Model Equity, alongside the
Association of Model Agents, the British Fashion Council, and the Greater
London Authority, has created the ‘Model Programme’ for London
Fashion Week. Briefly, what is the ‘Model Programme’?
V: The Model
Programme was put together as a response to the Model Health Inquiry. Its first
success has been the Code of Conduct. This was negotiated between Equity the
BFC, AMA and Mayors office as the first transparent document which has had
models exerting their rights directly to it.
Previously models workplace
conditions were decided between the client and the agency, with the model
having absolutely no say in their own treatment. It is a solid foundation block
and myself, as Chair and the Equity Models’ Committee are working to build on
it.
VFS: How do models and companies
benefit from it?
V: When a
model joins Equity, he or she starts the process of taking proper control overt
their working lives. This proves that they are aware an intern can exert their
rights.
Personal benefits provided for each individual member by Equity is
access to counsellors, nutritionists, legal advice and representation,
accounting/tax advice, £10,000 injury compensation insurance (for any injury
on/off a job).
The greater benefits are having the Models committee as a
representative body of the members who work co-operatively with the industry on
all our members behalf to tackle issues that affect us all. These could be
implementing a minimum age, racism, having a closed backstage environment,
ensuring pay, food and nudity clauses are all part of creating a future where
we are no longer overshadowed by doubt and a lack of accountability.
VFS: Why is this code of conduct so
important at London Fashion Week?
V: It is the
first transparent document where through Equity models have asserted their own
rights and therefore a foundation block for expansion.
It has
clauses for nudity, minimum rates which increase on how successful the designer
is (instead of decreasing or being expected to work for “prestige”), it
stipulates what breaks and for how long we are entitled to, ensures adequate
food is provided, controls the backstage environment from unscrupulous
photographers, ensures models get the basic rights which are taken for granted
in other professions.
VFS: How do you feel about the recent
closure of Model Sanctury?
V: Its
tragic and a real disappointment but an opportunity for to be re-opened by the
London fashion industry to demonstrate how much they support models
occupational health.
VFS: What is your experience of casting
for LFW?
V: I have opted out of doing shows this season to concentrate on
Equity but my previous experience is that London is a big city, it
takes an hour to get from east to west but its got big opportunities.
Its
exhausting, emotionally draining, frustrating, exciting, thrilling to see old
friends and a general roller coaster.
VFS: The female model casting for LFW
took place this week, how did it go?
V: Rachel was
the recruiter at that day but I went to the boys casting. Boys who are often
forgotten about fashion week are just as much an important entity as the girls.
I went in, gave them all a 10 second intro to Equity, bang, bang, bang - they
had the truth direct and straight to them. They loved it. I got all 134 emails
in the queue that I worked my way down of male models who want to be informed
about their union, Equity.
It’s refreshing in our industry to be told the
straight and honest truth about something reliable.
VFS: What’s next for Model Equity?
V: We have a
few avenues we are pushing but our main 3 for the moment are:
- Equity is now working on expanding the Code of
Conduct to the photographic environments. We are therefore looking for brands/magazines/individuals
who support models joining Equity to come forward and we can work together
to ensure our workplace environments are the best they can be.
- We are also pushing for a further regulatory
framework to ensure the minimum age for models is 16.
- We are always furthering recruitment and
expanding on our 787 members of today.
Cass Gowing, VFS Blog Editor
