LVMH, Kering set 18 as minimum age for adult models, tighten anti-harassment rules

Luxury groups LVMH and Kering, which together own labels such as Louis Vuitton, Dior and Gucci, announced on Thursday, October 8, 2026 a stricter version of the joint charter that governs how models are treated at their shows and shoots. The updated charter sets 18 as the minimum age for models representing adults, adds zero tolerance for harassment, abuse and violence backed by confidential reporting and unannounced workplace audits, and requires prior formal consent and dedicated spaces for any scene involving nudity or partial nudity. The new rules are due to take effect at Paris Fashion Week in 2027. The charter was first signed by the two groups in 2017.

Modelling is one of the most visible jobs in fashion, but also one where young women in particular have long described pressure, long hours and unsafe working conditions. Because LVMH and Kering control many of the world's most influential luxury houses, rules they set for their own shows and campaigns tend to ripple across the industry: agencies, photographers and production companies that want to work with these brands must adapt.

The minimum age of 18 for adult work addresses one of the most criticised practices in the business, where teenagers have been cast to portray adult women. The new consent and space rules for nudity, and the limit on models being alone with production staff, target situations in which models have reported feeling unprotected. Unannounced audits and confidential reporting channels matter because, in a competitive field where work depends on relationships, models may fear losing jobs if they complain openly.

For India's fashion industry, which is building its own runway calendar and global brand partnerships, the update is a useful benchmark. Indian models who walk international shows or work on global campaigns will come under these rules, and Indian designers and agencies working with luxury groups may be asked to meet similar standards. It also adds to a wider conversation about workplace safety for women in creative industries, where formal protections are still uneven.

Short-term: Brands, casting agents and production teams working with LVMH and Kering labels will need to prepare new consent, age-check and reporting processes before the 2027 shows.

Long-term: The charter could become a reference standard for model welfare across the fashion industry, as other groups and fashion weeks face pressure to match it.

Who is affected: Models, especially young women and teenagers entering the industry, modelling agencies, photographers and production crews, luxury brands, and fashion week organisers.

Questions and Answers