When I read of the death of Isabella Blow, it made me realise just what a vicious cycle the fashion industy is.
Noone wants to promote eating disorders, drung abuse or child rearing, but at the same time when you go to London Fashion Week, you don't want to see chubby people, how can they be inspirational or envious if there is not an element of the unattainable?
And when lypo, botox and whatever else people are doing nowadays can make a fifty year old look 20, 20 is not going to look so unattainable anymore hence why the 13 year olds are now coverted to model the latest rends. Just the same, with Linsey Lohan, Mary-kate Olsen and Nichole Ritchie showing the masses how quickly the pounds can be shed- Skinny just isn't enough hence eating disorders and hunger killing drugs a go-go.
The more you adhere to the fashion indistry- the more you starve, striaghten and "perfect," the more extreme the system has to go to keep you eyes wide. It's never going to be enough.

Sarah, Cardiff, Wales

The world of fashion and the fashionable has not changed one iota during many a long year. It has always been a brittle, sparkling, superficial world masking deep ambitions. The sheer ruthlessness with which these people so charmingly carve their route through their profession is well documented. Unfortunately all this only adds to the glamour of the dark legend, thus ensuring its very survival.

TRASH DESTINY, Sydney, Australia

When I read of the death of Isabella Blow, it made me realise just what a vicious cycle the fashion industy is.
Noone wants to promote eating disorders, drung abuse or child rearing, but at the same time when you go to London Fashion Week, you don't want to see chubby people, how can they be inspirational or envious if there is not an element of the unattainable?
And when lypo, botox and whatever else people are doing nowadays can make a fifty year old look 20, 20 is not going to look so unattainable anymore hence why the 13 year olds are now coverted to model the latest rends. Just the same, with Linsey Lohan, Mary-kate Olsen and Nichole Ritchie showing the masses how quickly the pounds can be shed- Skinny just isn't enough hence eating disorders and hunger killing drugs a go-go.
The more you adhere to the fashion indistry- the more you starve, striaghten and "perfect," the more extreme the system has to go to keep you eyes wide. It's never going to be enough.

Sarah, Cardiff, Wales

Well done India , I'm sure your article has hit many a raw nerve. It's true, the fashion industry often abandons those who give it the most. Many sad stories there.

Chrissa , Sheffield,

At one time in my life I thought models were pretty women,but todays models are rather grotesque.What happened?Did I change or did the models?I think it's the models.I still see pretty women,they're just not models.The whole fashion scene has become like a science fiction novel,off this planet.The funny thing is that as the fashion wheels turn,every once in a while I'm in fashion again.That is just so odd.Sort of puts the whole thing in perspective,doesn't it?

ron, toronto,

i don't think there are many people out there who think the fashion industry is "populated by lovely people" most of us know it is populated by coke addled control freaks.

you fail to mention in this article that izzy blow also had ovarian cancer and, sadly, had been unable to conceive the child she wished for. two major factors in the depression that eventually lead to her death.

i'm tired of lazy journalists who miss out mass swathes of fact just to make a neat story.

mab, midlands, UK

So utterly and sadly true. High fashion - like any form of celebrity - attracts those who want and need attention. Of course there are the great talents, but unfortunately they are marginalised if they do not know how, or are not willing to play the game. Creativity meets brutality equals success. No other formula will work. High fashion is an ego machine that caters to and is populated by just that - egos and often, yes, fragile ones. It is perhaps the most superficial of all forms of celebrity and the idiots within its confines do not realise that they only matter to each other and no one else, and that this, too, is fleeting.

meg, Hong Kong,

Fashion must indeed be a unique world. Where else would a straight man be crazy enough to agree to sleep with another MAN just to keep his job... as for the poverty, relative inequality, losers and failures, and fair weather friends - try working in... journalism!

Jason, London,

the latest desire for very young 'models' is just another way of modern paedophilia and encouraged by grown ups. if the media, in all its forms, would stop glorifying this world there would be less interest. why does every fashion advert have to have a 'sex' aspect? with the modern version of parenthood which forbids any kind of 'discipline' authorities and parents are also to blame.

Menachem, Jerusalem, Israel

A sad and disturbing truth about fashion - and celebrity - one might add!
A great article - well done!

Marianne, Denmark,

It was sad to read the case of Isabella Blow

I do not believe she will be remembered in 10 years time, this is even more tragic

Rest her Soul in Peace

Nicholas Iles, Oswestry, Shropshire

I agree with every word!

It's an industry that destroys lives. Many , many lives.

Mark, London, Uk

It is for articles like this that I read the Times.

Mark, Dublin, Ireland

I pay my heartfelt tributes, homage and eulogies to Isabella for her enormous talent, vast tinge of creativity and primadonna strature and reputation in the fashion industry. Why blame fashion industry alone as some "ugly business" , with all its glitz, glamour and allurement all garbed with the underlying loneliness and seclusion. If we take a peep into the lives of men and women with the creative bent of mind, be it authors, painters, artists etc, they live in a fantasy world of their own. Outwardly they are extroverts with flamboyant personalities, duly attached to the exterior world, but their heart and souls are often laden with a sense of remorse and disillusionment .Creativity bring with it the flux of exuberance and some mood swings . Fashion industry is no such exception. They lead a freakish lifestyle with a hollow state of vacuity and are more often than not allured to alcohol and drugs. The road to star spangled fame and limelight at times creates the road of perdition.

Sanjeev Dheer, new delhi, India

A very thoughtful piece of writing. I hope some of these models and designers are examining their consciences.

Tony, barcelona, spain

Thank you for this thoughtful and kind piece. I met Isabella only once, in 2004 at a dinner in Beijing. We sat next to each other for two hours and it was one of those times when you knew that this was a truly special individual you had chanced upon. I still can not properly grasp this turn of events.

AIB, Shanghai, PRC

I was a huge fan of Isabella's and am very saddened by her death. That said...

Unless one is intimate with the details of how Isabella conducted her financial affairs, it is guesswork at best to blame her lack of funds on an entire industry of people. Also, let's keep some perspective here: How poor is someone, really, who has the lifestyle Isabella had? As if having to pay McQueen in weekly installments of £100 for his entire graduate collection is something over which we should gasp and weep.

As for blaming her death on the fashion industry, that makes as much sense as blaming the suicides of countless writers, actors, and comedians on their respective industries. Yes, you take knocks in those businesses, but find me a way of earning your crust which doesn't impart some hardships along the way. Isabella did not need the whole of the fashion industry to descend upon her in the Priory, but the few close friends on whom she could count. She had them, and mental illness. Poor thing.

Jackie Danicki, Cincinnati, USA

Sounds like the fashion industry treats its members much like race-dog owners treat their charges once they are no longer useful.

Neil Murphy, Cromer,