LONDON FASHION WEEK TO LOSE FUNDING UNLESS SKINNY MODELS ARE BANNED

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 12th Oct 2006

The London Development Agency Chief Executive, Mary Reilly, conceded today under pressure from Dee Doocey, Liberal Democrat Culture spokesperson on the London Assembly, that London Fashion Week would see its funding cut unless they stopped using skinny models.

The London Development Agency has been funding London Fashion week through Creative London to the tune of £620,000 over the last three years. When urged by Dee Doocey to cut its funding to London Fashion Week, Mrs Reilly replied 'Yes, that is exactly what we are going to do'.

Dee Doocey, a former fashion industry executive who worked on London Fashion Week, spearheaded a campaign to make London Fashion Week follow the examples of Madrid and Milan by banning from its catwalks models whose Body Mass Index (BMI) is less than 18.

Dee Doocey said:

"The Mayor has a duty to promote health and well-being in everything he does. It doesn't seem to fit that one of the organisations within the Greater London Authority group are funding an event that is definitely encouraging skinny models - these girls are just not the right sort of role model.

'The LDA is in a position to put some pressure on London Fashion Week to take action over the widespread concern there is across all parties. One in 40 women have bulimia or anorexia and the girls being influenced by unnaturally thin women are getting younger and younger. If something is not done fast, we are going to end up with a huge health problem in this country.

'I am delighted the LDA are now taking a lead on this and that London Fashion Week bosses will see sense."