Sign a Letter to Governor Hochul

Dear Governor Hochul,

I’m writing to express my full support for the Fashion Workers Act (S.9832 Hoylman-Sigal / A.5631E Reyes), which would extend basic labor protections to models working in New York’s fashion industry. Despite fashion’s glamorous façade, the $2.5 trillion dollar industry is built on the backs of primarily young, immigrant women and girls who experience grave human rights abuses including rampant wage theft, sexual abuse, and human trafficking. 

[Personal anecdote(s) about why the Fashion Workers Act is important to you, if provided below]

New York Fashion Week, which kicks off on September 6th, draws more than 230,000 visitors to the city and generates close to $600 million in income each year. And yet, many models we see on the runway will end the week in debt to their management companies. As the fashion capital of the United States, I believe New York has a responsibility to ensure that the people who drive the industry’s success are treated with fairness, dignity and respect. 

The Fashion Workers Act will create a more transparent, accountable, and equitable fashion industry. Candidly, models have risked their livelihoods to campaign for this bill, and so we simply cannot wait any longer. I urge you to sign the Fashion Workers Act into law as soon as possible. 

Thank you for your time and leadership.