Fashion Weeks around the World

to be saying [and] if she’s going to have to say something crude and profane,” Hoffman said. “We know everything ahead of time. A good agency knows everything ahead of time and asks a lot of questions so that there are no surprises.”

According to Hoffman, as the owner of Hoffman International, children look to her as an agent that will respect their boundaries as models. Hoffman said she would have struggled to find clients if she was involved with controversial campaigns like Gift Shop.

“If I would have taken one job like [Gift Shop], my reputation would have been ruined. Parents would have never trusted me with their kids – that’s why your reputation is everything,” Hoffman said.

Balenciaga’s creative director, Demna Gvasalia, has been in the spotlight of controversy for his design choices before. The more notorious examples of these choices include putting heels on crocs, dressing Kim Kardashian in a head-totoe black body stocking for the Met Gala and a runway look with models holding trash bags made of leather. Hoffman discussed why controversial choices might be made by designers in the fashion industry.

“That’s what puts some people on the map for certain clients. And sometimes people try to be way out there in order to get attention, even though it might be negative attention,” Hoffman said.

In addition to getting attention, Hoffman said designers and models in the industry tend to be risk takers.

“Some people are risk takers,” Hoffman said. “They think, ‘Well, I’m not getting anywhere so why don’t I just go all out and do something completely insane?’”

While Balenciaga’s campaign was a risk, junior and student model Jacob Lemire stated that brands can make statements with their choices and vocalize their beliefs, whether they are positive or negative.

“I think [the audience] could definitely get the wrong idea from a runway look, but it could have a positive impact too,” Lemire said.

Lemire has been a model for companies including Target and Columbia. Additionally, he was a part of a program called The Fashion Honors Autism. According to Lemire, the program, which shows children with Autism how to model and interact with professionals in the industry, is one example of positive choices made in the fashion industry.

“My work with the Fashion Honors Autism is a positive look and it’s a very positive runway,” Lemire said.

Navigating everything from publicity to integrity, runways across the country are used by models and designers to create looks and release campaigns that vocalize their beliefs.