The Fashion Workers Act
We won financial transparency and accountability in New York’s fashion industry.
The fashion industry is a $2.5 trillion global industry, and New York is its center in the United States. And yet, models, who are the literal faces of the fashion industry, have not been afforded basic labor protections in New York. Until now.
The Fashion Workers Act S.9832 (Hoylman-Sigal) / A.5631E (Reyes) is a groundbreaking piece of legislation that will close the legal loophole by which model management companies have escaped accountability, and create labor protections for models. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the bill into law on December 21, 2024. It will take effect in June 2025.
A Message from our Executive Director
December 22, 2024
Dear Community,
I’m thrilled to share that Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Fashion Workers Act into law! This landmark victory, which affords labor rights to models in New York, sends a message to workers across the $2.5 trillion fashion industry that they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect just like everyone else who works for a living.
The law, which will go into effect in June 2025, will finally grant models access to deal memos and contracts with their own clients, increased transparency into expenses with limits on what can be charged to them, safeguards against harassment and abuse, and a formal channel to report violations without fear of retaliation, among other protections. For the first time, model management companies in New York will be registered with the state – which will protect aspiring models from fraudulent predators – and have a legal obligation to act in the best interests of the people they represent. Notably, models will also have first-ever protections against the misuse of artificial intelligence.
Passing the Fashion Workers Act is, in some ways, the culmination of my career in the industry, which started in New York when I was just 14. I saw up close the way in which the massive power imbalance between models and their management agencies led directly to sexual abuse. When I started speaking out and organizing my peers, I was treated like a pariah. We had a lot of structural sexism to overcome, but I knew we were right and our concerns were legitimate.
I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to every person who participated in our campaign – especially our Worker Council, whose courage and dedication over the last three years made this historic win possible. Whether you spoke out at a press conference, rode the bus to Albany, or called your elected officials, you did this. It’s no small thing to risk your livelihood to stand up for what’s right. In an industry that often left us feeling mute and isolated, we raised our voices collectively. I feel proud to have accomplished this together.
I’m grateful to our partners at Malkin & Ross, Pythia Public, and Evergreen Strategy Group for bolstering our small but mighty team – me and my brilliant colleague, Sydney – with their wisdom and expertise.
Last but not least, I want to thank our champions in Albany – our bill sponsors, Senator Hoylman-Sigal and Assembly Member Reyes, for their unwavering support, and Governor Hochul, for standing with workers and signing our bill into law. Thanks to you, New York will set the standard for one of the most economically significant, culturally vibrant industries worldwide.
We will be back in the new year to share more about the rights we’ve won and our plans for the work ahead. In the meantime, I hope you will take time to relax, recharge and celebrate this historic milestone – we did it!
In solidarity,
Sara Ziff
