We'll have no Size 0 models, pledges Fashion Week chief

Zero hero: Sir Philip Green, far left, watches the Topshop show after pledging that only healthy models would be used
13 April 2012

The head of the British Fashion Council today said no size zero models would be used in catwalk shows during London Fashion Week.

Hilary Riva, who has come under fire in the growing row over the use of waif-thin girls, said all models in London shows would be either size eight or 10.

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She said: "There is no model on the London catwalk who is a size zero. Our models are typically size eight at the top and 10 at the bottom."

The issue threatens to overshadow London Fashion Week, which was launched last night with the latest collection from Topshop.

It comes as an influential MP called for a parliamentary investigation which could ask fashion industry bosses to discuss whether it is socially responsible to use super-skinny models.

The London fashion industry is facing a full-scale parliamentary investigation into its use of size zero models.

The chairman of an influential Commons committee wants fashion bosses to appear on live TV to explain whether the use of skin thin models is socially responsible.

The issue of thin models is set to overshadow London Fashion Week, which started yesterday with a new Topshop collection.

The company's boss Sir Philip Green reignited the debate last month when he promised he would ban "waif models" from the catwalk.

Despite calls for action, the British Fashion Council which organises Fashion Week, has refused to introduce any regulation over the size of models or follow Madrid, which set a minimum body mass index.

The council has only gone as far as requesting designers to use "healthy" models over the age of 16.

Today Conservative MP Peter Luff, chairman of the trade and industry select committee demanded an all-party committee to launch an inquiry into corporate social responsibility, focusing on size zero models.

Around half his committee, including several Labour MPs, have already voiced support and he is due to put the proposal to the full committee next week.

Mr Luff told the Standard: "We are seriously considering launching a full-scale parliamentary inquiry. The key question is whether industry can be trusted to do things responsibly or does the Government have to intervene more aggressively to ensure that business behaves properly?

"I and a number of my colleagues on the committee would like to focus on size zero models. I would like to know if young women are being set the right example and can the industry be trusted to get its house in order without Government intervention?"

Any parliamentary inquiry would mean fashion bosses being summoned to Parliament to explain live on TV why they choose to use stick-thin models.

Mr Luff's intervention at the start of London Fashion Week is significant as he has a track record of successfully campaigning to protect teenage and younger girls.

He forced the magazine industry to introduce a voluntary code of conduct to stop exposing girls to very sexually explicit content.

The fashion industry is coming under increasing pressure at Westminster for using models who are an American size zero, the equivalent of size four in the UK, which most adults cannot achieve without threatening their health.

Insiders say it is unlikely thin models will make an appearance in London as many agencies are pulling out the girls that may cause controversy.

The BFC plans to set up a taskforce to address the issues. BFC chief executive Hilary Riva said all models used in London shows would be either size eight or 10.

She said: "There is no model on the London catwalk who is a size zero. Our models are typically size eight at the top and 10 at the bottom."

However, there are fears within the industry that any banning of models could lead to legal battles.

Models agents and Vogue editor Alexandra Schulman fears the models could accuse fashion houses of discrimination.

She said: "It would be like saying you can't have black or white models. By imposing new rules on size, you would be trying to prove whether someone was ill or well."

Committee member Tory MP Julie Kirkbride is one MP backing Mr Luff's proposals.

"The industry needs to police itself and take a very close look at its practices. Anything we can do to make companies aware of their wider responsibilities is good news."

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said at the weekend that models should undergo medical checks.

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