Working Towards A Healthier Runway

Every year during fashion week, top designers send out wafer thin models to walk the runways and display their latest clothing collections. People are often left wondering what type of message these models are sending out, and furthermore, should these designers be hiring these women who often go to unhealthy and extreme lengths to stay thin?
According to theredpages.com, the Council of Fashion Designers America’s Health is Beauty campaign is reaching out to designers, casting designers and stylists and encouraging them not to employ underage models, girls that are too thin and to be more ethnically aware.
According to 5resolutions blog, Vogue Editor in Chief, Anna Wintour and designer Donna Karan were among many in the CFDA Health Initiative discussion.
Michael Kors, an extremely successful and well-known designer, reminded the audience that designers should stay away from child size models, unless the clothing is meant for children. Kors pointed out that the selection of models the fashion industry hires effects women and influences girls everywhere.
Victoria Beckham had some things to say about the issue when she was hosting the TV show, The View. Beckham says, “I think designers are listening. I had a casting last week and had some terribly thin girls come in and it wouldn't have worked.” Beckham goes on to say, “I think that some of these girls, most of these girls are naturally thin and I don't think we should be discriminating against someone because they're too thin, too curvy or too large."
Although anyone that has seen pictures of Beckham would wonder if this was actual opinion on the matter, as she is thinner then a lot of the models that this campaign is trying to drown out.
Lately, models everywhere have been rallying together and speaking out about their personal experiences. Some, who have switched to plus-size modeling are speaking out about their experiences when they were thinner models. The extremities that these models endured are getting press, and people are starting to realize if this is really worth it?
Some people believe the designer’s preference of the wafer thin shape of women is starting to fade, while other believe that it is getting more popular each year.
Hopefully in the near future, most, if not all designers will follow healthy guidelines while selecting their models, and there will continue to be growth in preventing unhealthy models from working the runways.
We should work towards putting healthy, curvy, and relatable models to everyday women on the runways. Unfortunately, that day may never come.