LVMH and Kering raise model age to 18 and adopt zero tolerance on harassment
Representative image: AhmadArdity / Pixabay
LVMH and Kering said on October 9, 2026 they will not use under-18 models to represent adults from January 2027, with zero tolerance for harassment.
What Happened
LVMH and Kering, two of the world's biggest luxury fashion groups, announced on Friday, October 9, 2026 that they have strengthened their joint charter on the treatment of models. The revised charter raises the minimum age for models who represent adults in fashion shows and photo shoots to 18, up from 16, and sets out a zero-tolerance policy on "any form of harassment, abuse or violence, particularly gender-based or sexual." It also requires training for everyone involved in shows, castings and photo shoots for the groups' brands, and calls for "increased monitoring at every stage of collaboration with models, particularly during situations of nudity or partial nudity." The new rules take effect from Paris Fashion Week Men's in January 2027 and apply to all the groups' fashion houses wherever they operate.
Key Facts
- The revised LVMH-Kering model charter was announced on October 9, 2026.
- The minimum age for models representing adults in shows and shoots rises to 18, from 16.
- The charter sets zero tolerance for harassment, abuse or violence, particularly gender-based or sexual.
- Everyone involved in shows, model castings and photo shoots for the groups' brands is to receive training.
- Monitoring is to be increased at every stage of work with models, especially during nudity or partial nudity.
- The rules start with Paris Fashion Week Men's in January 2027 and apply to all houses in both groups, worldwide.
- Kering had set 18 as its own minimum in 2019, while LVMH had kept a minimum of 16.
Why It Matters
Modelling is one of the few industries where many workers start as teenagers, often far from home, and where power is concentrated in the hands of casting directors, photographers and agencies. A joint rule from two of the biggest luxury groups carries weight because their brands appear at major fashion weeks and in campaigns around the world.
Raising the age to 18 for models representing adults means teenagers will no longer be presented as grown women in the groups' shows and advertising. The specific mention of nudity and partial nudity recognises situations where models are most vulnerable, and the training requirement extends responsibility to everyone on set, not only to the model's agent.
For the Indian fashion industry, the change is a signal. Clear age limits, training and zero-tolerance rules offer a ready template that Indian fashion bodies, agencies and brands could adopt to protect young women entering the industry.
| Rule | Before | From January 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age for adult modelling | 16 at LVMH (Kering already 18) | 18 for both groups |
| Harassment policy | Charter in place | Zero tolerance, especially gender-based or sexual |
| Training | Not specified in reports | For all involved in shows, castings and shoots |
| Nudity situations | Not specified in reports | Increased monitoring |
Impact
Short-term: Agencies and casting teams working with LVMH and Kering brands must prepare to apply the 18-year age limit and new safeguards from January 2027.
Long-term: If other fashion groups and fashion weeks follow, the rules could raise the baseline of protection for models around the world.
Who is affected: Models, especially young women and teenagers, modelling agencies, casting directors and photographers, and the fashion houses owned by LVMH and Kering.
Key Takeaway
LVMH and Kering will not use models under 18 to represent adults from January 2027 and have adopted zero tolerance for harassment on their sets.
Questions and Answers
What did LVMH and Kering announce on October 9, 2026?
They strengthened their joint model charter, raising the minimum age for models representing adults to 18 and adopting zero tolerance for harassment, abuse and violence.
When do the new rules take effect?
From Paris Fashion Week Men's in January 2027, across all the groups' fashion houses worldwide.
What was the earlier minimum age?
LVMH had a minimum of 16; Kering had already raised its own minimum to 18 in 2019.
What other protections does the charter add?
Training for everyone involved in shows, castings and shoots, and increased monitoring during work with models, particularly in situations of nudity or partial nudity.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
