Julia Fox is being criticised for walking in Alexander Wang’s New York Fashion Week show

The industry pledged changes to create a safer environment for models within the industry. For example, LVMH and Kering — responsible for major luxury brands including Fendi, Gucci and Dior — created a new ‘model charter,’ which recommended additional safeguarding mechanisms for models under 18, as well as requiring mechanisms for models to make direct complaints about alleged misconduct. 

However, in September 2021, the Evening Standard reported that some industry insiders felt the pledges were largely “PR moves,” with some calling for an independent regulatory body to hold brands accountable. 

Thousands of small decisions had to be made by hundreds of people for Wang’s show to go ahead, from event logistics, such as preparing the venue and choreography, to the event’s marketing, such as securing press coverage and coordinating the front-row guest list.

Casting models is only one area of organising a fashion show – if all models were expected to only work with designers aligned with their values, most would be out of the job. But then again, Julia Fox isn’t most models. 

Fox has been praised for her unfiltered responses to societal issues, from calling out “anti-ageing” products to unequivocally supporting Amber Heard, telling Emily Ratajkowski, “I did have to say something, because if it could happen to Amber Heard, who is a white, blonde, beautiful, successful actress – because people say that she had no career before, but she did – none of us are safe.”

We understandably have high expectations of people in the public eye whose values appear to align with our own. In this instance, Fox has apparently made a decision that betrays these values, which is hard to grapple with. 

But if we can be sure of one thing, the problem of dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct in the fashion industry goes way beyond Julia Fox – perhaps our criticisms should reflect that. 

GLAMOUR has reached out to Julia Fox for comment. This article will be kept updated. 

For more information about reporting and recovering from rape and sexual abuse, you can contact Rape Crisis.

If you have been sexually assaulted, you can find your nearest Sexual Assault Referral Centre here. You can also find support at your local GP, voluntary organisations such as Rape Crisis, Women’s Aid, and Victim Support, and you can report it to the police (if you choose) here.

For more from Glamour UK’s Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.