The Met Gala serves as a launchpad for countless companies, influencers, and celebrities, both established and up-and-coming, seeking exposure and new commercial ventures. However, the Model Alliance is concentrating on the Metropolitan Museum of Art in order to highlight the Fashion Workers Act of New York State.
In an effort to garner support for the labour law that would require management agencies in New York to give models greater employment safeguards in the $2.5 trillion fashion business, the group is organising a rally on the steps of the Upper East Side museum on Sunday morning.
According to a representative for the Model Alliance, more than thirty persons are anticipated, including a few models and representatives from the Condé Nast union, the Writers Guild of America, East, and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Attendees will also include some representatives from other unions and members of the Freelancers Union, National Domestic Workers Alliance, and Workers United. This week, WGAE, which represents 7,500 writers working in cinema, television, news, podcasts, and online media, and SAG-AFTRA, which represents over 160,000 media professionals, announced their support for the measure.
The purpose of the law is to oversee and control management agencies in the sector. The goals are to give employees contracts, guarantee payment within 45 days, and shield them from discrimination, harassment, and hazardous working circumstances. Should the legislation be ratified, it would guarantee that agencies bear a fiduciary duty towards models, professional hair stylists, content creators, makeup artists, and other creatives. It is also intended to forbid any excessively expensive fees and commissions.
In an effort to raise awareness of the Fashion Workers Act, models Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, Kaja Sokola, and Kenny Salel will be present at The Met on Sunday alongside the creator of the Model Alliance, Sara Ziff. The event this weekend was organised for more reasons than just the extra strength that SAG-AFTRA and WGAE are contributing. For many of the models connected to the Model Alliance, the recent announcement that Harvey Weinstein will face a new trial for an overturned rape conviction “was huge,” according to a representative.
The #MeToo movement was started by Harvey Weinstein, who was first given a 23-year prison sentence after being found guilty of several counts of sexual abuse. September is when he is expected back in New York court. In California, the 72-year-old was also convicted guilty of charges involving sexual abuse. Those choices have not changed.
Model Alliance Fashion Worker
Ziff claimed in a lawsuit last year that she was sexually assaulted by former Miramax president Fabrizio Lombardo when she was a 19-year-old budding model and actress. The action was filed in the New York State Supreme Court. Ziff also filed lawsuits under the Adult Survivors Act alleging abuse and negligence against Weinstein, Disney, and its companies Buena Vista and Miramax.
A representative for the Model Alliance clarified that Sunday’s event is not a protest against The Met Gala. According to a representative for the Model Alliance, “it is intended to remind fashion’s biggest stars of those without any labour protection.”
“New York is home to a $10 billion fashion industry, and it is incumbent on our State to protect models and other fashion workers from exploitation,” stated WGAE executive director Sam Wheeler in a memo pledging the organization’s support. The fashion business may put on a show of glitter, but abusing employees is never acceptable. This law gives models the rights they need.
An inquiry for comment on Thursday was not immediately answered by a SAG-AFTRA representative.
Additionally, the Model Alliance’s Instagram account will be livestreaming the event on Sunday.
