In January 2007, the CFDA formed a Health Initiative to address the overwhelming concern about unhealthily-thin models and whether or not the industry should impose restrictions.

Responding to the ongoing glaring omission of black models on fashion runways, we expanded the initiative with Bethann Hardison and her Diversity Coalition in 2013 to improve diversity in fashion.

We further evolved it with Sara Ziff and her Model Alliance in October 2017 to include sexual harassment and assault and help the women and men who have experienced abuse in our industry.

In January 2018, the CFDA Health Initiative became the Initiative for Health, Safety, and Diversity to incorporate these three factors.

HEALTH: In partnership with IMG’s Health and Safety guidance for holding in-person shows, presentations, and events, the CFDA developed recommendation and strongly suggests following CDC, New York State and New York City guidelines. We encourage all fashion week stakeholders to get tested regularly, monitor symptoms and stay home if exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19. Even as we see fewer face coverings, we strongly urge attendees to wear masks indoors at all times, with the exception of designated drinking or eating areas and for models who are walking on the runway.

Model Health

While some models are naturally tall and thin and their appearance is a result of many factors, including genetics, youth, nutritional food, and exercise, other models have or develop eating disorders. Although we cannot fully assume responsibility for an issue that is as complex as eating disorders and that occurs in many walks of life, CFDA has been spearheading a campaign of awareness to create an atmosphere that supports the well-being of these young women.

Working in partnership with the fashion industry, medical experts, nutritionists, and fitness trainers, we formed a committee to propose a series of positive steps designed to promote wellness and a healthier working environment.

We are committed to industry-specific educational efforts, awareness programs, support systems, and evaluation and treatment options that advance our recommendations.

• Educate the industry to identify the early warning signs in an individual at risk of developing an eating disorder.
• Models who are identified as having an eating disorder should be required to seek professional help, and models who are receiving professional help for an eating disorder should not continue modeling without that professional’s approval.
• Develop workshops for the industry (including designers, agents, editors, and models and their families) on the nature of eating disorders, how they arise, how we identify and treat them, and complications that may arise if left untreated.
• We strongly encourage you to guard the well-being of younger individuals, to take into account the age of the models that you hire, and to create areas backstage for models to change in privacy.
• Supply healthy meals, snacks, and water backstage and at shoots and provide nutrition and fitness education.
• The initiative is about awareness and education, not policing. Therefore, the committee does not recommend that models get a doctor’s physical examination to assess their health or body-mass index to be permitted to work. Eating disorders are emotional disorders that have psychological, behavioral, social, and physical manifestations, of which body weight is only one.
• The initiative is committed to the notion of a healthy mind in a healthy body, and there cannot be one without the other. The industry is determined to foster a balanced approach to nutrition, recreation, exercise, work, and relationship.

Guidelines for Racial Diversity on the runway provided by the Diversity Coalition:

• Encourage the industry to be inclusive of racial diversity when preparing casting of models for their company needs.
• Ask model agencies to include and send models of color when casting. Do not assume agents will automatically do so. It’s good for them to hear the interest and important to see what models of color are available.
• Request models of color every season and not be limited to Spring/Summer collections and hesitate when it comes to Fall/Winter collections.
• When speaking to model agencies suggest to them to scout for more models of color encouraging a better selection.
• Be open-minded to models of color. Make an effort to add diversity to your lineup. It affects how we see things globally and how we are seen as an industry.
• Our objective is to make a shift on how the model of color is viewed so it becomes natural to see them participating each season in a greater number than seasons past.

Remember: Diversity doesn’t just pertain to ethnicity, but also to gender and body type. Representing the diversity of America across all aspects of our industry is so important – right now and always. In fashion, everyone is included!