In November 2006, 21-year-old Ana Carolina Reston, a top Brazilian model, died as a result of anorexia. At the time of her death she weighed just 88 pounds! So last year Spain banned ultra-thin models from catwalks. Good! Everyone else in the fashion industry needs to follow suit.
The French are at least trying. French fashion industry leaders and media companies have said they’re behind a plan by France’s minister of health calling for the promotion of healthier body types. Earlier this month, together with French politicians, they signed a non-binding “charter of good conduct” aimed at promoting healthier body images. Non-binding? Are you kidding me?
Now French lawmakers are saying enough is enough — fashion models are just too thin — and they’re taking a stance against impossibly thin models. According to the Associated Press, the French parliament’s lower house has approved a bill that would make it illegal for anyone — including fashion magazines, advertisers and Web sites — to publicly incite extreme thinness.
The bill is the latest effort to address concerns surrounding the fashion industry’s use of ultra-thin models. Although it’s not clear how the fashion industry would be affected by the rule, its author says she believes the legislation would force changes in how fashion houses depict women by giving judges the power to imprison and fine offenders up to $47,000 $70,000 if found guilty of “inciting others to deprive themselves of food” to an “excessive” degree.
Sounds good in theory, but I hope French lawmakers are prepared to “flesh out” their definitions of “inciting” and “excessive”… More