British Fashion Council joins Models First initiative

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Dec 15, 2017

The British Fashion Council has taken a leading role in the newly formed British Fashion Model Agency Association to help international models work in the UK.

To support the initiative, the BFC will take a secretariat role and will chair an independent committee comprising leading individuals from the fashion industry to develop a charter that will protect and give a voice to models.

Established by leading UK model agencies, the British Fashion Model Agency Association will replace the Association of Model Agencies. Together, the new association and the BFC will create a code of Best Practice and encourage both working models and the general public to adopt the new standards.

Additionally, the BFC and the BFMMA will work towards ensuring that international models, who have a freelance work status to work in the UK, can continue to collaborate with British based fashion houses and attend events such as London Fashion Week after Brexit.

Caroline Rush, CEO of the British Fashion Council said: “The BFMAA understood the need to develop an independent committee that will challenge agencies, as well as industry norms to ensure that models are treated with the same respect and care as all employees in the industry.  The stories highlighted through #METOO has meant that there is no better time for the industry to work together to stamp out any form of maltreatment or abuse. 

“The fashion industry is also facing challenges as visa regulations come under scrutiny in light of Brexit and we need to ensure access is open and talented individuals from overseas are not excluded from working in the UK, diminishing our opportunity to compete on a global stage.”   

The Models First initiative forms part of the BFC’s Positive Fashion, a BFC platform created to promote best practice and encourage business decisions to create a positive change.