The fashion industry has always been associated with beauty and glamour, with models and designers setting the trends for the masses to follow. However, over the years, the industry's obsession with thinness has become increasingly evident, with the ideal body type being a size zero or a size two.
While the fashion industry has come under fire for promoting an unhealthy and unattainable body type, the trend of preferring extremely thin models still persists. In this blog, we'll take a look at the history of size zero in the fashion industry and explore why it continues to be a sought-after body type today.
The rise of the supermodel
In the 1960s, models like Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton brought a new body ideal to the fashion industry - a thin, boyish figure with long legs and a short haircut. In the 1980s and 1990s, the supermodel era began with models like Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Claudia Schiffer. These models had more curves than their 1960s predecessors but were still slim by today's standards.
During this time, fashion brands and designers started to realize the importance of models in selling their products. They began hiring supermodels to walk in their runway shows and to appear in their advertising campaigns. The supermodels' popularity led to them becoming household names and influencing fashion trends worldwide.
The era of size zero
In the early 2000s, the fashion industry saw a shift towards an even thinner body ideal, with the rise of the size zero trend. Designers like Gucci, Prada, and Burberry Bags began using increasingly thin models in their runway shows and advertising campaigns. This trend was fueled by the media's fascination with celebrities and their slim bodies.
Models like Kate Moss and Gisele Bündchen became the faces of the size zero ideal. These models were not only thin but also tall, with long legs and small waists. The fashion industry was criticized for promoting an unhealthy and unattainable body type, leading to concerns about the impact on young women's self-esteem and body image.
In 2006, the Madrid Fashion Week banned models with a Body Mass Index (BMI) below 18 from walking in their shows, but this move was not adopted by other fashion weeks. The BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight, and a BMI below 18 is considered underweight.
Despite the criticism, the size zero trend continued to dominate the fashion industry. Many models resorted to extreme dieting, unhealthy eating habits, and even drug abuse to maintain their slim figures. The media reported numerous cases of models collapsing on the runway due to exhaustion or malnutrition.
A push for inclusivity
In recent years, there has been a push for more inclusivity in the fashion industry, with designers and brands showcasing models of different body types, skin colors, and ages. Plus-size models like Ashley Graham and Paloma Elsesser have become popular, and many brands have expanded their size ranges.
In 2015, French lawmakers passed a law banning the use of excessively thin models in the fashion industry. The law requires models to provide a medical certificate proving their health and a BMI of at least 18. The law also requires magazines to label images that have been retouched to make the model appear thinner.
Despite this push for inclusivity, the size zero trend still persists in the fashion industry. While some brands have made efforts to use models of different body types, many still prefer the extremely thin look. In 2021, a model walked in a Gucci show wearing a sheer top and revealing her ribcage, sparking outrage and criticism.
The impact of size zero on body image and mental health
The size zero trend has been criticized for promoting an unhealthy and unrealistic body ideal, leading to body dissatisfaction and negative body image among young women. Studies have shown that exposure to thin models in the media can lead to increased body dissatisfaction, lower self-esteem, and even eating disorders.
In addition, the pressure to conform to the size zero ideal can have a negative impact on models' mental health. Many models have spoken out about the pressure to maintain a certain weight and the toll it takes on their mental and physical well-being.
The future of the fashion industry
While there has been some progress towards inclusivity and diversity in the fashion industry, the size zero trend still persists, indicating that more needs to be done to promote healthy and realistic body ideals. Brands and designers need to be held accountable for the impact of their advertising campaigns and runway shows on young women's body image and self-esteem.
Consumers also have a role to play in promoting change. By supporting brands that use models of different body types and sizes and avoiding brands that promote an unhealthy and unrealistic body ideal, consumers can send a message to the fashion industry that inclusivity and diversity are important.
In conclusion, the size zero trend in the fashion industry has been a controversial topic for many years. While progress has been made towards promoting more diverse and inclusive body ideals, the trend of preferring extremely thin models still persists. The impact of this trend on body image and mental health cannot be ignored, and more needs to be done to promote healthy and realistic body ideals in the fashion industry.