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Diane Mulcahy was recently interviewed for an article in Vogue Business magazine. The topic — should fashion freelancers unionise?

The Covid-19 crisis has brought to light the lack of protection of freelancers and independent workers in the UK and US, forcing governments to adjust their policies to include them in income support schemes and sick leave.

The crisis has also accentuated solidarity and camaraderie between fashion freelance workers, who have started to think about unionisation and self-organising.

While organisations lobbying the government for the fashion sector and protecting freelancers exist, some think a formal protecting body specifically dedicated to fashion independent workers is needed to address industry-specific issues.

Patrick Clark (pictured above), a self-employed fashion stylist and writer based in Paris, has gone six weeks with no work during the global pandemic, as jobs were cancelled as soon as the lockdown was announced in France on 17 March. Clark is one of many freelance fashion workers, including stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists and models, who have suddenly lost their sources of income since the Covid-19 pandemic took hold of the world, forcing countries to enact lockdowns and strict social distancing measures that have made fashion shoots and productions impossible.

Key points in this article include:

• Present and future representation
• Organisation through camaraderie

Read the full article, Should Fashion Freelancers Unionize, on VogueBusiness.com.