Fashion assistants lift lid on ‘disgusting behaviour’ in industry with new Instagram account

SLEEPING in cupboards, being screamed at and having stilettos thrown at your head is all in a day’s work for fashion assistants.

Fashion assistants speak out on Instagram.

THOUGHT The Devil Wears Pradawas fiction? Think again.

Because a new Instagram account is lifting the lid on the rampant abuse of interns and assistants within the industry — and it’s not pretty.

The fashionassistants account has only been up and running since December, but it already has a legion of more than 7000 followers.

The platform allows fashion assistants to anonymously share horror stories that make Meryl Streep’s iconic Miranda Priestley look tame.

More than 100 posts have already been published, and they reveal a frightening insight into the widespread bullying and exploitation of junior, vulnerable workers in the supposedly glamorous industry.

In one post, a former intern describes being forced to “hand wash soiled underwear”.

Another recounts staff having to “sleep in cupboards” due to excessive workloads in the lead-up to fashion shows.

Many describe verbal abuse, sexual harassment and being bombarded with work demands at all hours — even at a family member’s funeral.

For some, the abuse turned physical, with several workers revealing they have had items including high heels thrown at them by senior staff members.

One of the anonymous founders of the account told Refinery 29 they hoped the platform would spark change.

“Other movements got the conversation started and quite rapidly saw change within the industries,” the founder said.

“So many messages of support and questions about how we can work together to unionise have arisen, or how we can set up a platform where agencies can help with problems, abuse, late payments, etc.”

Last year, models began using the hashtag #MyJobShouldNotIncludeAbuse to put the spotlight on bullying and harassment within the industry.

That campaign was led by model and activist Cameron Russell, and in the months following, the behaviour of a number of high profile photographers such as Terry Richardson have been exposed by victims.

However, while the vast majority of stories shared on the account are shocking and negative, there are several which reveal the positive side of the industry.

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