PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARCUS DAWES
Report by Katie GreengrasS
A sign as you enter reads ‘Leave your coats and looks at the door’. This is posted on the entrance of the much needed refuge that has been set up for show-weary models during London Fashion Week. The Model Sanctuary, situated away from the hustle of Somerset House, is a suite in London’s Mayfair Hotel provided exclusively for London’s modelling community. As every fledgling model knows, sixteen-hour days, back to back, at London Fashion Week can leave you feeling spent. And who better to provide a pick-me-up than veteran model, and The Model Sanctuary’s founder, Erin O’Connor?
“This is a fast-paced industry, now more than ever,” O’Connor told The Daily. “I set up The Model Sanctuary as a place where our models can talk freely but, more importantly, have a bit of down time away from the catwalk.”
Here, models can take advantage of a complimentary on-site life-coach, a nutritionist, beauty products from Weleda, Becca and Nude Cosmetics and an endless supply of refreshments courtesy of Marks & Spencer and Evian.
“I want young models to feel empowered by their experience here” O’Connor told us. “Hopefully we can help them look after themselves without it being a mandatory obligation.”
So forget hanging out off-duty backstage, the new place for a gossip (if you’re a model of course) is, O’Connor affectionately dubs, “the liveliest sixth form block of all time.”
The Model Sanctuary at The May Fair Hotel, Stratton Street, W1A 2AN, 07518 963 740, please bring I.D to gain entry. Models only!!!
