Plus-size models in size zero protest ahead of London Fashion week

Plus-size models stopped traffic outside the home of London Fashion Week yesterday in protest against the catwalk’s obsession with size zero.

Seven models stood outside the fashion week's main venue ahead of its start tomorrow to call for models of more shapes, colours and sizes to be included in runway shows.

Campaigners hit out at the size six-and-below body "ideal", saying it was terrifying to think of the steps some women take to try and slim down to sizes which are well below a healthy weight.

The models ranged from sizes up to 22 and included Kelly Knox, one of the UK’s leading disabled models.

They stood in the street outside the London Fashion Week building in Brewer Street, Soho, holding placards calling for more diversity.

Ed Watson, creative director at Simply Be which ran yesterday’s protest, said: “While there’s nothing wrong with being 6ft tall and naturally thin, it’s not representative.

“It’s not about thin-shaming. But, what we want is more diversity on the catwalk.

“The average size in the UK is a size 16, and fashion should be for everyone.”

Psychology graduate and plus-size model Jada Sezer, 27, told the Standard the problem lies with the designer’s small sample sizes which require thinner models. This then trickles down to the media with fashion magazines also using smaller models, she said.

She said: “We are trying to make it compulsory to make samples of eight and 12, and then they’ll use bigger models.”

“The fashion industry’s argument is the cost, but can you put a cost on people’s health?

“The plus size industry is the fastest growing industry at the moment, it’s lucrative so it doesn’t make sense.”

The Women’s Equality Party is meeting with the British Fashion Council – who last year faced criticism for using “too skinny models” - to discuss the issue as part of their One Size Fits All campaign.

The campaign also wants a rule to ensure any model whose BMI is under 18.5 – considered the lower end of the “healthy weight range” – to get signed off as healthy by a doctor.

“The BFC seem to be quite interested,” Ms Sezer said.

“We want to see the agencies have an interest to keep their models’ health,” she said. “Some people are naturally a lot thinner, that’s okay and we want to make sure you are healthy and in the right mental state to be a model.”