Sara Ziff Working To Form A Model Alliance

Model Sara Ziff is working to establish The Model Alliance, "to give models a voice in the workplace and to organize for better working conditions," WWD reports. Ziff's enlisted a slew of advisers out of Fordham University's Fashion Law Institute to come up with a code of conduct and standards for the modeling industry, but models haven't started signing up yet to join.

Ziff said:

"The modeling industry is essentially unregulated. As independent contractors, models don't have the same basic workplace protection as a lot of other industries do. They don't have workmen's compensation. They often don't have access to affordable health coverage. There are no provisions for rest and meal breaks [during work hours]. There is little recourse for issues of sexual harassment and sexual abuse. And a lot of modeling agencies have a huge amount of power over international girls because they sponsor their visas."

Earlier this year, Ziff released her film "Picture Me," which chronicles all of the difficulties models face. She also partnered on a three-part mini-series with The Cut -- the final segment was particularly compelling. We posted it back in September and we'll repost it here.

In it, model Amy Lemons explains to Ziff that when she was 17 years old, her agent told her to "eat one rice cake a day and if that didn't work only half a rice cake," and she's seen young girls dipping cotton balls in juice and eating them. Lemons added, "there are no rules or regulations...it's still like the Wild Wild West," and remarked that, "the CFDA needs to do a lot more than what their doing right now."

WATCH:

Comments

[Matt Carmouche]

08:26 PM on 12/23/2010

This is exactly what needs to happen! After modeling for 6 years and being treated like complete and utter crap by some and royalty by other, I am so turned off by the entire industry. I remember working in Seoul, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Tokyo, and other major Asian cities and working for 18 hours a day wearing 694 different outfits with a ten minute break, everyone smoking inside, horrible food(if any) or what about taking our passports? locking the refrigerator? not giving appropriate amount of spending money? taking 50% of earnings? oh how about $2,500 for a bed to sleep in for 30 days? don't hear about that because we're threatened and we wonder why model suicide is so high.

[Lozange]

08:14 AM on 12/24/2010

Tokyo? In my day, designers lined us up for facials, manicures before makeup, pay us very well and send us home with gift bags. The agency did charge high for agency apartments. Each roommate paid $1500, and that was back in the late 80's. But we'd make that in a day, sometimes twice that if we did two runway shows in the same day. Sadly, it's in the city I settled in my own country, Toronto, that I found them backward.

Anyways, I'm all for organizing labour. In my experience though, when agents dangle stardom, the models forget their woes and their colleagues. There's little cohesion among models IMO.

[Matt Carmouche]

11:37 AM on 12/30/2010

Unfortunately, things have changed...drastically! Foreign agencies take 40% and domestic agencies take 10-15%. When I worked overseas, I had 50% taken away immediately. Then there was room and board. Then there was pocket money. Comp cards. Travel expenses. Things are a lot different now. My sister was a domestic/international model as well and she said things were great until a few years ago when everything took a turn due to bad economics and over saturation. Pop culture really changed things.

I learned a lot through modeling and traveling for years. I'm glad I have the experience but would never wish the modeling curse on anyone, honestly. I was raised really well so felt equipped to take on the challenge. I know so many people who quit right away or ended up dying in the industry.

For me, it wasn't about stardom; it was about my bucket list, chasing a childhood dream. But you have good strong views. I appreciate the care.

[peaseworld]

12:54 AM on 12/23/2010

A model's union would be a very interesting thing. I wonder how that would change the world of fashion.

[Callyson]

08:13 PM on 12/22/2010

Best of luck to you, Sara...it would be nice to pick up a fashion magazine or go to a fashion website without feeling complicit in the gross mistreatment of the young people involved.

[imonlyhereforthelaughs]

02:59 PM on 12/22/2010

I'm sorry, but who is holding the gun to their heads?

[Highball]

09:39 AM on 12/23/2010

That's not an argument at all, and makes little (if any sense).

Workplace conditions should have at least a minimum of protection for any worker in any environment. And if you had RTFA, you would have noticed that in some cases, there is a "gun" of sorts: the agency sponsored the visa.

So, you're saying that as long as no one is forcing you to do something, you have no rights whatsoever? Please explain how that makes sense? Would you repeal, say, child labor laws just because no one's holding a gun to a kid's head?

[Matt Carmouche]

08:29 PM on 12/23/2010

Are you kidding me? You have NO IDEA ON EARTH how much models go through! No idea! Behind that pretty face is sex trafficking, verbal and mental abuse. Nothing is good enough. I'd love LOVE to put you in some of those situations and see how you reacted, you'd pull the trigger the first casting wouldn't even make it to a job. you should talk to a model one day and ask them how they are...you'll be horribly surprised!

[Dionita]

02:12 PM on 12/22/2010

I pray that this goes well. It’s way past time.

[gabbahey]

01:17 PM on 12/22/2010

Way to go! Another example of how the world will be helped when people are organized and have a union... er... alliance...

[lotus321]

12:59 PM on 12/22/2010

Does it include food for these girls?

[Psychomantic]

10:32 AM on 12/22/2010

Well, I for one find this infinitely more interesting than anything about Kate Middleton.

This is actually kind of a big deal, if anything actually comes of it.