The Fashion Workers Act: Closing the Regulatory Loophole in the New York Fashion Industry

Authors

Kayleigh Ristuben

Abstract

The fashion industry in New York has largely been unregulated due to a loophole in current law. This has allowed fashion models to face difficulties that would otherwise be addressed by laws regulating other occupations within the entertainment industry. The New York state senate has introduced the Fashion Workers Act which is aimed at addressing these issues and closing the regulatory loophole. This Note analyzes the existing regulatory framework in both New York and California to compare them with the proposed bill. It then uses legislative history from past regulatory attempts to anticipate and address potential industry pushback while offering solutions to issues within the bill. With some equitable revisions, the Fashion Workers Act can be the much-needed vehicle for change.

Recommended Citation

Kayleigh Ristuben, The Fashion Workers Act: Closing the Regulatory Loophole in the New York Fashion Industry, 33 Fordham Intell. Prop. Media & Ent. L.J. 908 (2023).
Available at: https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/iplj/vol33/iss4/4