News / Fashion
Skinny Models Must Eat To Walk in Milan
Milan fashion houses have agreed to exclude ultra-skinny models from their catwalks. With pressure mounting from health organizations and women’s groups Milan has taken steps to ensure models with a body mass index less than 18.5 won’t be strutting their stuff come February.
The agreement between the fashion mecca Milan and the ultra-powerful fashion industry comes just under two months before the city kicks off its February catwalk shows.
Along with the ban on severely underweight models, the city and industry have agreed to prevent underage models from the stage. Models will have to be over 16 years of age and prove they are in good health before being allowed to hit the runway.
Milan’s mayor, Letizia Moratti, said he wanted to “communicate to our young people the importance of positive models of living.”
Many of these changes have come in response to sharp criticism from media and health organizations who have claimed the fashion industry has turned a blind eye to the welfare of their models. In November 21-year-old Ana Carolina Reston, died as a result of anorexia nervosa. The 5’8 model Brazilian model was 88 pounds when she died.
As part of the agreement between city and industry, models will have access to courses that promote healthy eating habits and exercise.
