In an interview with France 24, Paris-based journalist Dana Thomas spoke out about systemic failures on the part of French law enforcement agencies and the modeling industry in responding to allegations of sexual exploitation in the fashion world.
Thomas specializes in fashion and culture and is the author of the book “Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster.” She noted that for decades, allegations of sexual exploitation in the fashion industry have surfaced in various countries, often involving influential figures.
France 24 notes that the deaths of such influential figures may have made it difficult to hold them legally accountable. The interview description also mentions the sudden death of Daniel Siad.
Thomas, who previously worked as a model and survived sexual assault in Paris in the early 1980s, asserts that predatory behavior in the industry was neither hidden nor exceptional. In her view, the problem stems not only from individual actors but also from a entrenched system in which human trafficking, exploitation, institutional inaction, and the impunity of elites have reinforced one another across generations.
