EMPOWERING CHANGE: FASHION WORKERS ACT BECOMES LAW IN NEW YORK
By: Prachi Khatri
The glitz and glamour of the fashion industry have been masked with harsh realities for those working behind the scenes including models, photographers, stylists and makeup artists. The fashion industry is said to be worth $2.5 trillion globally and yet it has deprived workers of basic labor protection. The payment issues, exploitation and trafficking have been mostly prevalent in the fashion industry. Workforces have minimal transparency in terms of working rights. In fact many agencies are known for exploiting fashion models with no set contracts and this has dangerously become ‘the norm’.
The Fashion Workers Act has been signed into law in New York, which will bring much-needed change in the fashion industry, bringing management companies into regulation for the first time and establishing basic labor protection for models and content creators working in New York’s fashion industry. The Act, set into effect from June 2025, will ensure models and creator marketing agencies grant access to contract with their own clients, have transparency into the expenses, and have a proper channel to report violations or any kind of “predatory agencies” managing models.
Credit: Model Alliance (Instagram)
Content creator management agencies and models for the first time will be required to register with the state and will have the legal obligation to act in the best interest of people they represent.
More than 200 fashion models, including the famous Alexandra Ambrosio and Beverly Johnson, wrote to New York’s governor requesting to sign the bill of rights on an urgent basis protecting models against sexual harassment, racism, discrimination, and AI.
“As models, we know firsthand how urgently we need basic labor protections to create a safe, equitable work environment in the fashion industry. Each one of us has a story that demonstrates how New York is failing the faces of one of its most culturally vibrant, economically significant industries in the world,” reads the open letter to the governor.
A few key requirements of management companies would include:
Be transparent regarding contracts and agreements with models and creators.
Charge fair market value for model accommodations.
Capping the maximum commission to 20% puts an end to predatory agencies charging hefty commissions from model incomes.
No extra/hidden fees
Protection from harassment and unsafe working conditions
The Fashion Workers Act Bill did not come into effect lightly. The long legislative fight was first introduced in 2022 by Sara Ziff, founder of Model Alliance. The organization, Model Alliance, has been known to advocate for the labor rights of models working in the US.
Credit: Model Alliance (Instagram)
“This landmark victory would send an open message across the fashion industry that fashion workers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” wrote Sara Ziff on the labor rights organization website.
Not just management companies but also clients will be required to follow various regulations, such as paying overtime for jobs exceeding 8 hrs of work, providing a min. 30 min. break within an 8 hr. shift, and allowing models to be accompanied by a chaperone.
Positive ripple effects are expected across the Industry. The Fashion Workers Act's passage is expected to have repercussions that go well beyond labor laws. New York is establishing a global standard by putting workers' welfare first, demonstrating that moral behavior and innovation can coexist together. The Fashion Workers Act, in the long term, will strengthen the trust and professionalism, also boosting diversity and inclusivity within the fashion industry due to regulated practices.
Fundamentally, the Fashion Workers Act is a testament to the strength of campaigning and collective actions. Its enactment marks a major turning point in the fashion industry towards a more transparent and morally responsible industry. This law is a positive development that reminds us of what we can achieve when industries put humanity and artistry first. The future of the fashion industry, it seems, is not just stylish but also just.
Cover Image: Mohammad Metri / @mohammadmetri