Not everyone is pleased with the new French law banning excessively thin models. The French government is putting legislation in place that will require models to produce a medical certificate with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 18 or over. Fashion houses and agencies that fail to adhere to the law may face six months in prison or a fine of 75,000 euros (about $81,000).
Several high-profile names in the French fashion industry have taken issue with the law, according to WWD. Isabelle Saint-Félix, the general secretary of Synam, France’s union of model agencies, said international models shouldn’t have to contend with “a different system for different countries.” Paris-based stylist Simon Gensowski said, “Rather than body-shaming women with eating disorders, it would have been wise to reconsider current sample sizes.”
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Despite criticism, the French government is moving forward with even more laws that govern body image in the fashion industry. Next year, a new article will go into effect that regulates photoshopping. If a model’s face or body has been airbrushed in a photo, the mention “retouched photograph” must accompany said image.
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France is finally cracking down on the damaging standard of beauty perpetuated by the fashion industry. In our opinion, it’s a welcome change.
[via WWD]
