Wednesday, 12 December 2012

Caryn Franklin and All Walks Beyond the Catwalk - Clothes Show Live 2012


The Clothes Show was first aired in 1986. This means that I have technically been watching Caryn Franklin since the tender age of one. I was very excited to spot her on the Style Studio stage, talking about her ‘All Walks Beyond the Catwalk’ initiative. All Walks Beyond the Catwalk was launched to empower ordinary women and promote positive and realistic body image. In her seminar, Caryn spoke about the recent collaboration with M&S and also about how photographer Rankin and a host of designers (Antonio Berardi, Stella McCartney and Vivian Westwood, to name a few) have been championing the cause. I definitely agree that “The promotion of one body type is unhealthy and unkind” and that “There’s more to beauty than just the one ideal”.

It was interesting to learn that it only takes seventeen separate complaints to the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) for companies to be investigated. If seventeen people complained, for example, that a model used in an advertising campaign looked unhealthy, then the ASA could investigate and ask the company in question to show their ‘digital trail’. This really made me think – one letter or email has more power to change things than you’d imagine.


If, like me, you tire of seeing the same gaunt Caucasian faces decorating the pages of fashion magazines and billboards, then make sure you visit this website to find out more:  www.allwalks.org

No comments: