Denmark signs ethical charter on models, body image

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
May 12, 2015

The Danish Fashion Ethical Charter, which was originally introduced in 2007, has been relaunched with a number of new rules and sanctions.

The new, more stringent charter was launched by trade associations Danish Fashion Institute, Danish Fashion & Textile and WEAR, the eight largest model agencies in Denmark, the Danish Association against Eating Disorders and Self-harm, and Model Union Denmark.

It sets out rules and sanctions to ensure the well-being of the models and promote a healthy body image. Among them are an obligatory health check and a minimum age requirement of 16. To get admission to Copenhagen Fashion Week, brands now need to sign the charter, which has received the support of over 300 businesses since it launched.

Those who have signed it include modelling agency Unique, brands Ganni, By Malene Birger and Soulland, magazines such as DANSK Magazine and Cover, and corporations like DK Company.

The CEO of Danish Fashion Institute and Copenhagen Fashion Week, Eva Kruse, commentd: "Recently in Denmark and abroad there’s been some gloomy examples showing that problems with the beauty ideals the fashion industry creates continue to exist. The stupendous amount of support being given to the Danish Fashion Ethical Charter speaks for itself; the Danish industry is aware of its responsibility and is prepared to take a collective step towards models having better well-being and towards a body image that is healthy and not sickly. We think the fact that the industry is taking such an active part in the charter will have a much greater impact – also in the long run – than legislation issued by the authorities and fines, which have been discussed, for instance in France."