Opinion
Pandemic damage to model agencies not pretty
A large following on social media can open today’s doors just as easily as a top agency name. That is one trend the industry will not be rushing to promote.
The Lex ColumnModel agencies are not sitting pretty. Coronavirus, lockdowns and travel bans have scythed income in an industry reliant on jet-setting and getting up close and personal. Many of their clients – mostly big shops and fashion brands – are holding back payments. Others, having gone bust, cannot make payments at all.
Meantime, big luxury brands are learning to live without the beauties on agencies’ books. Burberry and Gucci have both launched collections modelled by their own staff, the latter helpfully including Post-it notes inscribed with their day jobs.
Financial Times
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