The Model Alliance released a video Thursday as New York Fashion Week comes to a close about ways models are abused and the Respect Program, a private sector initiative aimed at holding the fashion industry to a new global standard.
“I am over manipulative practices at modeling agencies,” model Madisyn Ritland said in the video, pointing out a major issue among models worldwide. Others in the video speak about a very common problem of waiting months to be paid and experiencing tokenism and discrimination. In the video, models call for industry stakeholders to join the Respect Program. It’s the only program designed by and for models and provides enforceable labor protections to models and creatives who work in the fashion industry.