D&G Convicted, New York State’s New Protections for Child Models, and Jason Wu’s Side Gig

Will Dolce and Gabbana be singing caged bird tunes? If the recent conviction by a Milanese court for tax evasion holds up, they will.

On Wednesday designers Domenico Dolce and Steffano Gabbana were found guilty of failing to declare 1.3 billion in income to Italian authorities. Domenico and Steffano were both sentenced to 20 months in jail. Though both designers have denied the charges, prosecutors contend that the design team evaded taxes on earned income through a Luxembourg‒based company.

When brought up on charges of fraud two years ago, this highly publicized case was thrown out of court. Still, Italy’s high court stated the Dolce and Gabbana could be charged with evasion of taxes. Hmm, I guess the high court was right!!

Jason Wu’s New Stream of Income

If running his own eponymous fashion brand was not enough, Jason Wu has now taken on the role of creative director for Hugo Boss’ womenswear line. In his role of creative director, Wu will expand Boss’ womenswear offerings. Never having hired a matinee designer for the brand, Wu’s hire is a first for Hugo Boss.

“[Wu] will assume responsibility and creative direction for all product and image related aspects of the principal womenswear Ready-to-Wear and Accessory line in the HUGO BOSS Group. In his role as Artistic Director, Jason Wu will oversee his team at the HUGO BOSS headquarters in Metzingen, Germany, and also open a design studio in New York” details a Boss representative to nymag.com.

Wu will debut his collection for the brand for pre-Fall 2014 and also present for Fall 2014 during New York Fashion Week.

Child Model Developments

Child models now have the same protections afforded child actors, dancers, elite athletes, and musicians, well, at least in New York State they do. On June 12 the State Senate and Assembly unanimously approved legislation that gives models under the eighteen the rights they deserve in New York state.

Under this new labor law, proposed by  Senate Co-Leader Jeff Klein and State Senate Labor Committee Chairwoman Diane Savino, models under the age of 18 must now have chaperones and tutors on the set,  and provisions for financial mandatory trusts. These new regulations will be overseen by the Department of Labor, which has more resources to enforce compliance than the Department of Education, which formally oversaw regulations pertaining to employment and education for child models.

Model Alliance, a NYC‒based model advocacy group, has been in the forefront of this historic legislation. Founded by supermodel Sara Ziff, Model Alliance seeks to improve working conditions for models in the American fashion market.

—William S. Gooch