Recently, an increasing number of well-known models prefer to speak openly about the problems of the fashion industry. Naomi Campbell recently accused the modeling business of bias and almost racism, Claudia Schiffer contributed to the debate over size zero, and now model Iman criticizes the industry for viewing models solely as “hangers” for designer clothes.
A former supermodel and now the wife of singer David Bowie, Iman said that designers should also be involved in solving the problems of the fashion industry. She believes that the modeling business is a very powerful tool for setting certain beauty standards, especially when it comes to aspiring models, "who are forced to meet these unthinkable requirements." “There is no doubt that designers have tremendous influence on this issue. Because a designer can just say, "I won't hire models with that weight." Iman claims that as a result of this attitude towards models, they lose their individuality.
Last month, Iman, Naomi Campbell, Tyson Beckford and about seventy other models and designers took part in a campaign against racism in the fashion industry. “It's just a shame that in 2007 we are still talking about the issue of racism,” said Iman.