Diane Von Furstenberg pleads for fair-play on the runway

The famed American designer who invented the "wrap dress" is using her voice to support ethical practices in the cutthroat world of fashion. In an open letter published on the Council of Fashion Designers of America's website, DVF urges fashion houses to treat its models fairly, ahead of New York Fashion Week which starts next Wednesday.

In the letter, CFDA President Diane Von Furstenberg and CFDA CEO Steven Kolb ask fellow designers to acknowledge, review and consider the Health Initiative guidelines that have become the standard for working with runway models during fashion week.

"We must consider the emotional and physical well-being of these young women. At a minimum, you are required to adhere to labor laws that require models under the age of 18 to have proper documents and schedules," reminded Von Furstenberg and Kolb in their online missive which included links for downloading the relevant guidelines for fashion houses.

The full letter is available online at: http://cfda.com/blog/from-diane-von-furstenberg-and-steven-kolb

Fashion houses have come under fire in recent years for failing to include models from different ethnic backgrounds and using young people who are either under age or too thin.

The letter serves as a reminder that beauty, health and diversity on the runway are interdependent and that you can't have one without the other. The designer urged the players in the industry to take a stand together and "spread the message to the world."

DVF also highlighted her campaigning efforts with Bethann Hardison for promoting diversity on the runway.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. is a not-for-profit trade association that leads industry-wide initiatives and whose membership consists of more than 370 of America's foremost womenswear, menswear, jewelry, and accessory designers.

In addition to hosting the annual CFDA Fashion Awards, the organization offers a range of programs for American fashion designers starting out.

A decade ago, Von Furstenberg received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) for her impact on fashion. One year later, she was elected the CFDA's president, an office she continues to hold. In this role, the designer has dedicated herself to fostering emerging talent and helping to establish the Design Piracy Prohibition Act, which protects designers from counterfeit reproductions of their work.