MONTREAL - Concerns over ultra-thin models shifted from the runway to the political stage Tuesday as a Quebec minister revealed plans to forge ties with the fashion industry to tackle the issue in the province.
Christine St-Pierre, minister of culture, communications and the status of women, said a plan is in motion to see a committee formed by the end of the month of between 25 to 30 people from different parts of the business to work in tandem with the province on drafting a charter by next spring.
While the terms haven't yet been decided upon, St-Pierre said they're seeking to have an agreement with the fashion, marketing, publicity and retail sectors of the industry that would see them involved in addressing the problem of ultra-thin models.
"We think that if we work with the fashion business, they will be able to reach young women and to reach young women easier than me," St-Pierre said in an interview Tuesday.
While the problem may not be one solely affecting the fashion business, the minister said the industry can play a role in educating and informing young women.
St-Pierre said the issue came to the forefront when two female students, one of whom suffered from anorexia in the past, submitted petitions to the Quebec legislature calling on the province to act on the problem.
St-Pierre said former models, fashion companies and many others involved in the business have already expressed interest in taking part.
"We have to teach to those models what it is to be in good health and good shape and have good habits to eat well," St-Pierre said.
She acknowledged that tackling the issue is a complex one as it is a "very delicate problem."
"It's not a problem only of, 'OK, you don't eat, you have to eat.' It's a large problem. It's a psychological problem," she said.
The issue made headlines in the province last fall when organizers of Montreal Fashion Week issued a statement announcing plans to pull any models from shows who appeared too thin.
Organizers had said they were "making every effort" to make models whose body mass index appears low or could indicate a problem with anorexia be withdrawn from shows and that those models would be directed to professional help in the areas of nutrition or eating disorders.
St-Pierre met Tuesday at Bonsecours Market, the site of the week's festivities, with Fashion Week organizers who, she said, were very interested and motivated to work with them. St-Pierre said Economic Development Raymond Bachand and Health Minister Yves Bolduc are also on board.
The "skinny-model" debate continues to make waves throughout the global fashion industry.
In 2006, at least two models died from complications linked to eating disorders, which prompted some in Europe to try to ban skinny models from the runway.
In February 2007, organizers of a top fashion show in Spain rejected five out of 69 fashion models as being too thin.
At the recent New York Fashion Week, models were up to sizes 2 and 4, not 0, according to the chair of a fashion designers health initiative.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America has held workshops on eating disorders and recommended designers keep models under 16 off the runway, offer healthier snacks backstage and require those identified as having an eating disorder to seek professional help if they want to continue modelling.
