Marc Jacobs Doesn't Pay His Models For Their Work

[fantastical]

and how does anyone pay their bills!

I read something once saying that the models get "billed" for ridiculous amounts before they can ever even pay off their debt to their agency. So I guess they still have to pay their agency even though they technically get paid in trade for some shows.

I'll try to find the article if I have time

 

[cologne_rocks]

how are agencies (and the tax authorities) going to get their cut if models are paid "in trade"?

They get nothing.
Unfortunately I fail to see the "prestige" these days in walking for free for a brand like Marc Jacobs - Since his casting is not so significant I would say.
It would be fun if all NY agencies would join a cartel formed to regulate pricing for runway gigs. For example, to refuse providing models for runway shows for less than $500, at least. Something similar was done on the german market, not for runway shows, though. If LVMH is easily willing to provide tons upon tons of litres of glossy champagne and luxurious oysters on their parties, they are likely to be able to offer the models a few hundreds of dollars per show. I bet castings would gather more significance then as well because MJ wouldn't book 50 girls if he actually had to pay for it.

 

[Psylocke]

^I completely agree. Models should be treated like any other employees when they walk in your show. I see why smaller brands would pay their runway models in trade but with major businesses like LVMH I fail to see how this can be justified.
Of course the very young models won't mind getting a handbag instead of a real paycheck because they don't have many responsibilities and hopefully have parents that can financially support them. But once they're trying to be independent and realize they're working so hard and can't even afford their rent or pay their bills I don't think they will get this excited over a Marc Jacobs bag anymore.

BTW, is anyone else seriously shocked about the fact that the train at the Louis Vuitton show apparently cost $8 Million? How can you spend so much money on props and not pay your models at all? Ridiculous.

 

[bothsidesnow]

how are agencies (and the tax authorities) going to get their cut if models are paid "in trade"?

Agencies can still charge fees to clients even if their models are only paid in clothes. These will be called "service fees" or "booking fees".

 

[LabelWhore4]

BTW, is anyone else seriously shocked about the fact that the train at the Louis Vuitton show apparently cost $8 Million? How can you spend so much money on props and not pay your models at all? Ridiculous.

That is truly revolting. MJ is such a tight wad.

 

[Mariann]

I just read most of the first post about the model who claims Jacobs does not pay the models. Well not sure if we have so much evidence but I thought it was worse than it actually is. Marc Jacobs clothing costs so much, the dress, bag, shoes and jacket is one full outfit if she likes it, the money Marc would have paid her with she may have spent on clothes, here she is already given them and imagine if she sold them then she would make a lot of money. It's a good job Marc pays Louis Vuitton models and it's compulsory pay. This model seems to have been getting so much work at a very young age too.

 

[tigerrouge]

and imagine if she sold them then she would make a lot of money.

I doubt that I would be too happy with a job where the employer attempted to dispense with actual pay, instead 'rewarding' me with items which I then have to spend extra time and effort translating into money through ways that offer no guarantee that I'd get the imagined return on them. An already-used skirt and bag won't pay your bills if no-one wants to give you the going rate for them.

Imaginary money isn't much good to anyone, except for the employer who's been spared from having to hand over proper cash.

 

[Mariann]

I doubt that I would be too happy with a job where the employer attempted to dispense with actual pay, instead 'rewarding' me with items which I then have to spend extra time and effort translating into money through ways that offer no guarantee that I'd get the imagined return on them. An already-used skirt and bag won't pay your bills if no-one wants to give you the going rate for them.

Imaginary money isn't much good to anyone, except for the employer who's been spared from having to hand over proper cash.

I completely and utterly agree with you, just was trying to look at it in a more positive way. Has he started paying his models yet?

 

[Bahiyya]

Ethics 101: Just because someone makes a choice to participate in a certain activity gives the power brokers carte blanche to treat them anyway they want. Even if the worker is aware of the crappy job conditions. Even if the crappy job conditions are an industry standard.

There are tons of media and artistic jobs that operate on similar premises, like internships, in which jobs are unpaid. It is not widely accepted to hire under-18s and work them for several hours the pay them in fancy shrinkwrapped Photoshop Suite and cool laptop gear that could score some serious moolah on Ebay.

There is nothing super special about the special greenhouse flower that is the fantabulous Fashion Industry that somehow makes it immune from ethical and moral realities beyond the attitudes of people who maintain it for their own reasons. Nobody needs to hire under-18s in questionable conditions for the sake of "creativity". No-bo-dy.

Edit: "Jeez, I deal with all this too and I don't get paid a lot of the time, thems the breaks" is also not logic and doesn't apply, except to reinforce how we are complicit in the system. So don't bring it to me, thanks bunches.

 

[mimo]

You also have to consider how much these items they are being paid with cost to make. We all know this things cost a lot less to make than what the retail price is. If you think of that, MJ is not wasting a lot of money on models.

At the end of the day, you want to get paid money not little presents that may or may not end up getting you the money you want.

 

[fashionista-ta]

I doubt that I would be too happy with a job where the employer attempted to dispense with actual pay, instead 'rewarding' me with items which I then have to spend extra time and effort translating into money through ways that offer no guarantee that I'd get the imagined return on them. An already-used skirt and bag won't pay your bills if no-one wants to give you the going rate for them.

Imaginary money isn't much good to anyone, except for the employer who's been spared from having to hand over proper cash.

I can just imagine my reaction if I finished a job and the company said, sorry, we don't have any cash, but here's a bunch of office supplies ...

Models are not my area of expertise, but I thought MJ has been paying models 'in clothes' since the very beginning (when I'm sure there were times he didn't have money--which clearly now he DOES). I didn't think this was a standard practice really--not unheard of, but something that he in particular has been known for for years. Can someone confirm/deny?

 

[Mariann]

It's even worse when new models or aspiring models are on Model Mayhem and they find casting calls that give a TF (trade for prints) compensation. I thought some models could actually get paid there but I am hearing if the models are agency represented then it would be unprofessional as the agency are responsible for finding the model work.

I've browsed through model's profiles on there and also photographers.. there are people with potential on there.
No pay for big jobs isn't really expected even though it may happen.

 

[Mariann]

I can just imagine my reaction if I finished a job and the company said, sorry, we don't have any cash, but here's a bunch of office supplies ...

Models are not my area of expertise, but I thought MJ has been paying models 'in clothes' since the very beginning (when I'm sure there were times he didn't have money--which clearly now he DOES). I didn't think this was a standard practice really--not unheard of, but something that he in particular has been known for for years. Can someone confirm/deny?

Sorry this isn't a firm answer but I think you are right and he has been doing this for years. It's not just him though, I am sure I heard other models saying we got a pair of shoes from doing a runway show but I at that time thought they get the money + the clothes, they said we get clothes and shoes and even one model said things get stolen.

 

[Mariann]

Do models like the top ones; Bambi, Abbey Lee and so on make enough money to live on? And do they have other jobs if the jobs they get from modelling don't pay such as this from Marc?

 

[angel222]

I remember reading an interview years ago that Frankie Rayder said that she does trade with Marc Jacobs and she got shoes that hurt her feet. Just recently Jessica Stam said that before when she worked for him doing LV they use to get a nice purse, but now he gives them socks and they're not even cashmere.

 

[Littleathquakes]

so the situation's gotten worse

 

[anlabe32]

It appears Marc Jacobs isn't the only one

Nimue Smit:

What is the most beautiful piece of clothing in your wardrobe?
"A black Alberta Ferreti gown with pink pearls on the shoulders. It was given to me as payment for a campaign.

 

[Mariann]

It appears Marc Jacobs isn't the only one

Nimue Smit:

a campaign? I thought they would pay models.

 

[Deleted member 130879]

A campaign? Now that's REALLY something... bad.

 

[MulletProof]

They know how necessary it is to have a black gown with pink pearls (!) on the shoulders in your wardrobe.