London Fashion Week - Call for action by Beat

Ahead of London Fashion Week Susan Ringwood, CEO of Beat, the UK’s leading eating disorders charity, issues a challenge to the fashion industry to ensure the health of its models.

“Progress has been made,” said Ringwood “through the Kingsmill Inquiry, to look at the overall industry and take steps to protect those working within it. We would urge the fashion world to follow through the recommendations made by the Inquiry and issue the following call to action:

OUR CALL TO ACTION

Five steps that everyone can take – no matter where or how they are involved in the fashion industry:-

1. Raise awareness – get informed about eating disorders and understand the risks. Change working practices to help reduce the risks involved.

2. Demonstrate diversity – in shape and size as well as ethnicity and age. Challenge the narrow aesthetic.

3. Take an ethical stance – make a commitment to supply chain integrity. Translate lessons from fair trade to make fashion healthy.

4. Build resilience – in the young people employed in the industry and those influenced by it. Help people understand the pressures and how to reduce them.

5. Celebrate creativity – fashion is aspirational. The creativity that drives it should be life affirming – not potentially deadly.”

For further information visit B-eat.co.uk.