In a post Harvey Weinstein world, the creative industries are taking the wake-up call to sexual harassment and abuses seriously, with Condé Nast being the first to take public action, banning fashion photographer Terry Richardson from all future shoots. Brands including Valentino and Bulgari followed suit, stating they will no longer commission the photographer for their campaigns.
The controversial Vogue photographer, famed for his sexual explicit photographs, made his shoots as illicit behind the lens as they were in front. A torrent of horror stories from young female models, and most recently by actress Lupita Nyong’o, who were inappropriately treated by Richardson can by found by a single Google click, yet the photographer remained at liberty to continue his editorial and advertising projects unhindered, celebrated by the industry at large for his sexy take on fashion.
London’s Daily Telegraph was the first to report the news, confirming James Woolhouse, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Condé Nast International, sent an internal email to the company’s global presidents instructing them to stop collaborating with Richardson. American Vogue previously stopped working with Richardson in 2010, but Paris Vogue and other titles kept the photographer on their books. Most recently Richardson photographed the cover for W magazine’s September issue, which counts British stylist Katie Grand as its Contributing Fashion Creative Director.
Woolhouse’s email stated:
“I am writing to you on an important matter. Condé Nast would like to no longer work with the photographer Terry Richardson.
Any shoots that have been commission[ed] or any shoots that have been completed but not yet published, should be killed and substituted with other material.
Please could you confirm that this policy will be actioned in your market effective immediately. Thank you for your support in this matter.”
Richardson’s louche behaviour has been as widely documented as it has been quietly tolerated by luxury brands, magazines, modeling agencies, casting directors and stylists. A 2014 article in the New York Magazine titled “Is Terry Richardson an Artist or a Predator?” may have let the cat out of the bag, but did nothing to deter his career or prevent future accounts of abuse.
Sexual imagery is a part of photography
At the time Richardson responded in the Huffington Post: “Like Robert Mapplethorpe, Helmut Newton and so many others before me, sexual imagery has always been a part of my photography,” wrote Richardson at the time on the Huffington Post. “I have never used an offer of work or a threat of rebuke to coerce someone into something that they did not want to do.”
A representative for Richardson told the Telegraph: “He is an artist who has been known for his sexually explicit work so many of his professional interactions with subjects were sexual and explicit in nature but all of the subjects of his work participated consensually,” a representative for Richardson told the Telegraph on Tuesday. “Terry is disappointed to hear about this [Conde Nast International] email especially because he has previously addressed these old stories.”
As the Business of Fashion on Wednesday stated, “following the avalanche of allegations against major Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein from over a fifty actresses and concerns around negative PR fallout and whether brands and magazines could perhaps be held legally liable for job-related sexual harassment, the fashion industry establishment, which long turned a blind eye to Richardson’s behaviour, suddenly appears to be taking a harder line.”
Model Alliance working to protect against sexual harassment
In the turmoil of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, and many women in both fashion and entertainment coming forward, Model Alliance, an organization dedicated to helping promote fair treatment, equal opportunity, and sustainable practices in the fashion industry, is working on a new law to help protect women against sexual harassment.
The organization is working with Congresswoman Nily Rozic to introduce a bill to Congress called the "Models' Harassment Protection Act." The bill would help close loopholes that currently leave models open to potential sexual harassment. As models typically fall under the category of independent contractors, that usually exempts them from workplace protections granted to full-time employees.
Nily Rozic to introduce "Models' Harassment Protection Act."
The "Models' Harassment Protection Act" would make it "an unlawful discriminatory practice for a modeling entity, whether it be a management agency or company, to subject a model to harassment, regardless of their status as an independent contractor or employee," according to a statement from Rozic's office. Anyone who hires a model would be responsible for any harassment that occurs on set.
“If there is anything we are learning from over the past few weeks is that we have reached a turning point whether to accept sexual harassment as a norm, or end the cycle by enacting protections and providing a path of recourse,” said Rozic in a statement. “No one should ever experience sexual harassment in or outside of the workplace.”
As more stories about Weinstein sexually harassing actresses came forward, model Cameron Russell decided to come forth with her own story via Instagram posts about sexual harassment she has faced in the fashion industry. Many other models, both male and female, began to open up about their stories exposing the not-so-hidden secret that often goes on behind the scenes in fashion.
The bill is considered long overdue, and has a strong constituency of support among the majority of the fashion industry.
The controversial Vogue photographer, famed for his sexual explicit photographs, made his shoots as illicit behind the lens as they were in front. A torrent of horror stories from young female models, and most recently by actress Lupita Nyong’o, who were inappropriately treated by Richardson can by found by a single Google click, yet the photographer remained at liberty to continue his editorial and advertising projects unhindered, celebrated by the industry at large for his sexy take on fashion.
London’s Daily Telegraph was the first to report the news, confirming James Woolhouse, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Condé Nast International, sent an internal email to the company’s global presidents instructing them to stop collaborating with Richardson. American Vogue previously stopped working with Richardson in 2010, but Paris Vogue and other titles kept the photographer on their books. Most recently Richardson photographed the cover for W magazine’s September issue, which counts British stylist Katie Grand as its Contributing Fashion Creative Director.
Woolhouse’s email stated:
“I am writing to you on an important matter. Condé Nast would like to no longer work with the photographer Terry Richardson.
Any shoots that have been commission[ed] or any shoots that have been completed but not yet published, should be killed and substituted with other material.
Please could you confirm that this policy will be actioned in your market effective immediately. Thank you for your support in this matter.”
Richardson’s louche behaviour has been as widely documented as it has been quietly tolerated by luxury brands, magazines, modeling agencies, casting directors and stylists. A 2014 article in the New York Magazine titled “Is Terry Richardson an Artist or a Predator?” may have let the cat out of the bag, but did nothing to deter his career or prevent future accounts of abuse.
Sexual imagery is a part of photography
At the time Richardson responded in the Huffington Post: “Like Robert Mapplethorpe, Helmut Newton and so many others before me, sexual imagery has always been a part of my photography,” wrote Richardson at the time on the Huffington Post. “I have never used an offer of work or a threat of rebuke to coerce someone into something that they did not want to do.”
A representative for Richardson told the Telegraph: “He is an artist who has been known for his sexually explicit work so many of his professional interactions with subjects were sexual and explicit in nature but all of the subjects of his work participated consensually,” a representative for Richardson told the Telegraph on Tuesday. “Terry is disappointed to hear about this [Conde Nast International] email especially because he has previously addressed these old stories.”
As the Business of Fashion on Wednesday stated, “following the avalanche of allegations against major Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein from over a fifty actresses and concerns around negative PR fallout and whether brands and magazines could perhaps be held legally liable for job-related sexual harassment, the fashion industry establishment, which long turned a blind eye to Richardson’s behaviour, suddenly appears to be taking a harder line.”
In the turmoil of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, and many women in both fashion and entertainment coming forward, Model Alliance, an organization dedicated to helping promote fair treatment, equal opportunity, and sustainable practices in the fashion industry, is working on a new law to help protect women against sexual harassment.
The organization is working with Congresswoman Nily Rozic to introduce a bill to Congress called the "Models' Harassment Protection Act." The bill would help close loopholes that currently leave models open to potential sexual harassment. As models typically fall under the category of independent contractors, that usually exempts them from workplace protections granted to full-time employees.
Nily Rozic to introduce "Models' Harassment Protection Act."
The "Models' Harassment Protection Act" would make it "an unlawful discriminatory practice for a modeling entity, whether it be a management agency or company, to subject a model to harassment, regardless of their status as an independent contractor or employee," according to a statement from Rozic's office. Anyone who hires a model would be responsible for any harassment that occurs on set.
“If there is anything we are learning from over the past few weeks is that we have reached a turning point whether to accept sexual harassment as a norm, or end the cycle by enacting protections and providing a path of recourse,” said Rozic in a statement. “No one should ever experience sexual harassment in or outside of the workplace.”
As more stories about Weinstein sexually harassing actresses came forward, model Cameron Russell decided to come forth with her own story via Instagram posts about sexual harassment she has faced in the fashion industry. Many other models, both male and female, began to open up about their stories exposing the not-so-hidden secret that often goes on behind the scenes in fashion.
The bill is considered long overdue, and has a strong constituency of support among the majority of the fashion industry.
Dior taps 10 artists to customize handbags
Last year, Dior collaborated with 7 artists for customized Lady Dior bags, and they were met with high acclaim. Now, Dior has decided to continue the program for the second year in a row with ten new artists.
First made available in 1995, the Lady Dior bag became iconic when Princess Diana was photographed with it on a trip to Paris in 1996.
For this iteration, called Dior Lady Art #2, the fashion house gave carte blanche to the artists to transpose their creative genius into Dior's leather working language. Dior's in-house atelier helped the artists transpose their vision onto their bags. Everything from the bag's fabric to its size, color, jewelry, handles and stitching were all adjusted for the artists vision.
Dior continues artist collaborations for Lady Dior bag second year in a row
The artists come from all over the world and have very diverse backgrounds.
The ten artists include Lee Boule from Korea, American poet and composer John Giorno, Chinese mosaic master Hong Hao, Los Angeles-based satirist Friedrich Kunat, Swedish-Guinean Namsa Leuba, Frenchwoman Betty Mariani, Kenyan Jamilla Okubo, Jack Pearson from Massachusetts, the young American avant-gardeist Spencer Swinney and installation artist David Wiseman.
Price points for the handbags range from 5700 dollars to 9700 dollars. They will be available in select Dior boutiques and shop-in-shops worldwide beginning December 1.
2017 has been a very promising year for Dior's business. In the first half of 2017, the Christian Dior Group reported revenues of 20.7 billion euros, up 15 percent at actual exchange rates and 12 percent on a constant consolidation scope and currency basis. During the first half of the year, the Group benefited from a favorable comparison base, particularly in Asia, but also in France, where activity was affected last year by a decline in tourism.
photos: courtesy of Dior
source:fashionunited.com