Raining Glass Ceiling Shards and Positive Change in the Fashion Industry

Oct. 8, 2010 - PRLog -- On the leading edge of reform for women across the world The Network is sharing the same cry as supporters of the UN Millennium Development Goals and the Women Inspiring Women symposium leaders, Donna Karan, Arianna Huffington and former First Lady Sarah Brown. These hammer carrying reformers are tapping away at what is left of the glass ceiling to empower women across the world in various ways.  It is an effort to encourage and shine a clear light on a generation of female leaders and innovators that provide a real difference and forward movement in business, cultural image formation and society in general.

The Network, brainchild of former superstar talent agent, Paul Fisher has assembled a team of modeling agencies around the world in which 95% of its contracted agencies are run by women; Women who have been in the fashion industry for years tossing pebbles into the ocean of change.  The Network, is arming these women business owners with boulders!  United as an internationally growing matrix of talent agencies these female entrepreneurs are being given the power to create new industry guidelines for the health and support of their talent.

Clear in their mission many of The Network agency owners are driven by a personal desire to see change in the industry.   Barbara Pilling, owner of Edge Models in Victoria BC said, “I started in this business at fourteen. I was lucky to have a fluke of nature metabolism but saw other beautiful girls, friends of mine be told to lose weight and many starving themselves and hurting themselves. As I saw more and more young girls get into the business I thought at least I can educate them and protect them! "

Arlene Weise a director at the Network who has worked at top agencies such as the Ford modeling agency and Next Models is quoted saying, “Although this field is predominantly saturated with women at top levels, that doesn’t mean we have historically worked well together. The Network has brought a fresh feeling to the women of these agencies that we don’t need to be seen as competition, but rather as partners in this effort to promote our businesses, our talent, and new healthy ideals for what is realistic beauty.  The Network is offering an opportunity for synergy”

“A shift in the attitude and actions of female business owners empowers us all to be more successful,” said Lynne Hix, owner of the Fierce Modeling Agency, based in Rapid City, South Dakota.  “Men have always known the importance of forming business alliances and professional friendships on the golf course.  Women have been resistant to that.  I think that might be part of the reason that men have dominated most professions.  They’ve always known how to work effectively together for the betterment of everyone.  But we ladies are learning,” she added.

Knowing that the strength of any group working on large changes in mindset, industry standard, culture or big business is really developed in the number of arms linked together walking in the same direction, Fisher is rallying to unite the heart of the modeling industry.  "Not everyone famous is from New York or LA originally, obviously.  Actually, most amazingly beautiful, talented women are originally from smaller cities.  It is from this deep pool that we will develop the next new industry stars," he said.  "There is no secret to the success of this project.  We are empowering individual secondary market agency owners by giving them an elevated voice.  Rather than their own small chant cast into the world.  All these agencies are chanting together and their voice is getting louder and more clear.  What they are saying is 'We Want Change!' " he added.
 
Gloria Steinem said, "The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off."  The truth is what brought Paul Fisher to create The Network.

“I started The Network because I had come to hate what the fashion industry has done to young people’s self-esteem. I want to give back to a business that has given me so much by transforming it. I thought the most effective way to do so was to assemble a team of agencies around the world that were owned by women… I felt if I could convince agency owners around the world owned by women to join me on this mission of transformation, to work together, to share models, to feel each-others pain, that “together” true lasting change could occur…. Bottom line: I don’t believe anymore in the false choice between being successful and doing the right thing,” said Fisher.

The plan Fisher has set into motion is an opportunity for agencies in the secondary markets to be empowered, to connect talent with large contracts from their heartland office, as easily as any agent in New York or Los Angeles could.  These agencies will create their own stars with the help of the Network. As it works already among the media darlings, these stars will become role models.  The wheels are set in motion for these powerful young women will become not only role models, but important players in the fashion industry.  They will be role models who can affect the world in a very proactive and positive way.  The creation of industry stars offers the sponsoring agency a voice in their community and the fashion industry.  These agencies will become stronger by representing star talent discovered and developed in their hometown, their message will be heard, and as one unified voice of reformation, true lasting change will vibrate throughout the industry and the world.

“I have chosen to travel this path with women agency owners for one simple reason, being a hetero sexual man, I think I can accurately say, there is too much temptation in a business with so many beautiful young women for hetero sexual men to deal with.  Are their exceptions to this rule, absolutely yes…  However, the men in the past who have owned agencies have left me, and others, with a terrible taste in our mouths due to their treatment of these young, beautiful, impressionable kids.  And, by the way, I was one of ‘those men’,” said Fisher

The enthusiasm of the project is evident among the agency owners.

”Working with young people and helping them to achieve their dreams in a positive way, is so exciting. The fashion business can be brutal if you let it and our goal with The Network is to make it as fun and productive as we can, by developing beautiful people on the inside and the out, “ said Terri Morgan, owner of TCM Models & Talent “Having been in business for over 30 years and a part of the industry for almost 40, the changes I have seen have not always been great. But, The Network and the people involved …. we are going to make the positive difference that has been needed for so long! "

“When Paul Fisher connected with the Centro team to share his goals for The Network, we thought the concept was brilliant!    As a new member of The Network, we look forward to partnering with a group of global agencies with women as the leaders who have the wisdom and integrity to make a difference,” said Sharon Tucci, owner of TalentPlus, Inc. St Louis Mo

“Mahatma Ghandi said 'We must become the change we want to see in the world.'  THE NETWORK is providing the ability for all of our individual agencies to be this change in today's socially and economically challenging times.  We look ahead with promise to a different 'model' for the future of our industry”, added Jane Campbell, Owner of Canada based Panache Models & Talent.

The NETWORK consists of modeling agencies in Portland, Oregon, Rapid City, South Dakota, Las Vegas, Nevada, New Orleans, Nashville, Tennessee, Orlando, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia, Metairie, & New Orleans, Louisiana, Salt Lake City, Utah, Seattle, Washington, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Boston, Massachusetts, St. Louis, Missouri, Omaha, Nebraska, Panama, Winnipeg Canada, Bogota Columbia, Mexico City, Zurich and London. With agencies added to The Network’s roster every week.

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Modeling agencies in cities across the globe have come together to form the largest network in the world. A dream team of the industry's most powerful agents has been assembled. Modeling agencies around the world are now sharing thousands of faces, discovering new talent in cities large and small, and opening up local income streams for the first time in industry history. The business of beauty will never be the same.

This growing network of talent agencies is bringing together major modeling agencies, cosmetic companies, designers and industry insiders from around the world with one purpose: to transform how beauty is defined and marketed worldwide. The Network, led by eminent and experienced industry insiders, is the vehicle for smart, successful, socially responsible change.

www.thenetworktalent.com