Large fashion houses prohibit models under 18

Gucci, Saint Laurent, and Alexander McQueen are among the leading fashion brands that have committed to working only with models older than 18 years.

According to the president and CEO of the company, Francois-Henri Pinault, young men and women under that age will no longer represent the brands owned by the French luxury group Kering from 2020. The new guide will apply to both the fashion shows as well as the photo sessions.

In a press release, Pinault explained that the measure sought to inspire others within the industry. He said: "As a global luxury group, we are aware of the influence exerted on younger generations in particular by the images produced by our homes. 

We believe that we have the responsibility to present the best possible practices in the Luxury sector and I hope to create a movement that encourages others to follow their example. "

The fashion industry is no stranger to controversy because it has faced many criticisms in recent years for its use of "zero sizes" models.

Two years ago, Kering and the rival conglomerate LVMH, owner of Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Givenchy, among other brands, published a letter on the welfare of the models, which set the minimum age to work in 16 years. 

Its aim was to introduce a range of guidelines to safeguard the health and well-being of the models, including the commitment to use only models with a valid medical certificate.

These changes were introduced a month before Vlada Dzyuba, a 14-year-old Russian model, became ill and died suddenly while working in China in October 2017. The tragic episode sparked a debate about child models and their work environments.

But the new policy, which will come into force in time for the Fall-Winter 2020 collections, goes further.

"From our point of view, the physiological and psychological maturity of models older than 18 years seems more appropriate for the pace and demands involved in this profession," said Marie-Claire Daveu, director of sustainability and head of international institutional affairs of Kering, in the company's statement.

"We are also aware of the role model element that the images produced by our houses can represent for certain groups of people."