Kids modeling is one of the most thriving parts of the fashion industry and major brands give opportunities to aspiring child models to showcase their talents on the very biggest stage.
Since big fashion brands like Zara, H&M, and Gap are well-known for featuring kids modeling in their campaigns, their casting opportunities are highly sought after and competitive. Learn how you can help your child navigate the process and ultimately land modeling opportunities with these brands below.
How Do Kids Modeling Work
Way before even thinking of trying to get cast in big brand campaigns, it is important to have an understanding of how the industry works and what steps have to be made before having a realistic chance of gaining such an opportunity.
If the child shows interest in becoming a model, or at least hints about it, parents can start by researching for kids modeling castings to apply for in various ways, including the arguably most convenient one, through online casting platforms.
If it is an open casting call, it can be used as a great opportunity to get the first experience for the kid, and figure out if the youngster wishes to pursue the modeling industry further.
Unlike what the case may be with adult modeling, kids are typically expected to have a natural look, so there is no need for parents to alter their youngsters' appearance, other than having well-kept hair and skin, as well as clean clothes.
In order to be competitive amongst other candidates, it is best to create a modeling portfolio as soon as possible, since without it, it will be hard to stand out and get the attention needed to receive an invite to the casting call. Kids modeling portfolios should get updated as soon as there is new useful information to include.
Once the kid modeling starts to not only receive invitations to casting calls but also actually gets the gigs to various projects, it is time to realistically start searching for specific big brand castings.
How To Land Opportunity With Zara
-
What To Know?
Zara is a Spanish multinational fast-fashion company that sells clothing, accessories, beauty products, and perfumes. It was founded in 1975 by businessman Amancio Ortega, who is the wealthiest person in Spain, with a net worth of around $54 billion as of 2024.
Initially, Zara focused on low-priced similarly looking products of popular, higher-end fashion brands. That all changed in the 1980s when Ortega had the pioneering idea about “instant fashions”. It included changing the whole of Zara's design, manufacturing, and distribution process. The final result was reduced lead times and a quicker reaction to new trends by using information technology and groups of designers instead of individuals as before.
The revolutionary concept ended up changing the whole fashion industry and propelled the brand to start expanding internationally, ultimately allowing Zara to become one of the global leaders in the fashion retail market.
As of 2024, Zara has around 3,000 stores worldwide, including the stores aimed specifically at kids, Zara Kids, or home items, Zara Home. The brand stores are spanning over 96 countries, with the most being at its home turf of Spain - 547 retail stores. While already having a major online presence, Zara continuously keeps on expanding in this aspect as well.
-
Why Strive To Model For Zara?
Kids modeling for Zara receive various benefits and opportunities, which makes this brand a prime job target for any aspiring youngster.
As mentioned below, the brand has a massive global presence across 96 countries. Being associated with Zara and included in its campaigns and marketing materials can boost a child's visibility in the modeling industry going forward. Not only is it a globally recognized name for the modeling portfolio but more often than not Zara's campaigns receive exposure through various marketing channels not just on a local level but also internationally.
Besides that, parents and their children should be excited in general about the chance to learn and gain experience by working with a famously reputable fashion brand like Zara. Getting a gig with Zara will mean the opportunity to network and work with renowned professionals, including photographers, stylists, and other creatives. Such an experience can really help a kid to develop their modeling skills and understanding of the fashion industry, as well as possibly lead to future modeling opportunities.
A very important aspect when working with Zara is the fact that they are well-known for embracing diversity and inclusivity in brand's marketing campaigns. Such an experience can be really empowering to children from different backgrounds and appearances, who may have wished to see themselves more represented in the fashion industry.
Finally, Zara does financially compensate kids modeling for their campaigns, thus providing an all-around productive experience for the youngsters. Of course, the pay rates may vary depending on the type of model job and hours worked.
-
What Zara Is Looking For In Child Models?
Besides all the necessary things outlined previously, it is very important to meet the basic requirements. Those can include such factors as living in or near the particular place where Zara tends to do their casting calls for kid modeling to be potentially available in flexible hours. Age requirements for the child model can vary widely and really depends on the particular campaign.
Typically their casting calls can be found on Zara’s website or social media accounts, as well as through online platforms like KidsCasting and talent agencies. Zara also tends to open casting calls.
How To Land Opportunity With H&M
-
What To Know?
H&M is a Swedish multinational fast-fashion company that sells clothing, accessories, beauty products and perfumes. It originated from a women’s clothing store called Hennes, which was opened in 1947 by Erling Persson. In 1968, Persson acquired the Swedish hunting apparel retailer Mauritz Widforss, which led to the inclusion of a menswear collection in the product range, thus becoming Hennes & Mauritz, or as the world knows it the best, H&M.
The brand also works within the concept of an instant fashion business model. It allows H&M to design and produce new products in a remarkably short time frame. While many of their fashion retailer competitors require months to introduce designs, H&M can introduce new products to the masses within the very short period of mere two weeks.
H&M Group, which also has brands like COS, Weekday, H&M Home, and Arket under its umbrella, operates in 75 countries worldwide, with over 4,800 retail stores as of 2024.
-
Why Strive To Model For H&M?
By being massively recognizable, with 2023 being H&M's most profitable year to date, trendy, including various collaborations with celebrities and other fashion brands, and affordable, working with their marketing campaigns can provide kids modeling with major exposure and future opportunities.
The brand's marketing presence worldwide is truly a sight to behold, from top-ranked billboards in the biggest cities in the world to a major online presence in social media and numerous media platforms. For a young model, working for an international brand of such a global scale can give an exposure that really makes a difference when creating a strong modeling portfolio and competing for gigs in the future.
Modeling for such a brand as H&M also means the child will gain experience working together with the industry's leading field experts, including photographers, designers, and other models, to whom the kid modeling might have been looking up and was inspired to start doing it in the first place. That, of course, also gives numerous networking opportunities, even further widening the chances for new modeling gigs later on.
In recent years, H&M has been providing an initiative in which they support young models who are also interested in spreading awareness about themes like social equality, sustainability, and education. By contributing to such initiatives, child models through working with the brand can also learn more about various important to society topics and widen their overall worldview, potentially even inspiring their peers as a result.
Finally, H&M also financially rewards kids modeling for them. The earnings from the modeling may vary based on numerous factors, including the type of gig the kid is doing and how much time it requires.
-
What H&M Is Looking For In Child Models?
Brands like H&M are looking for kids that have a joyous and friendly personality, and are easy to work with. Also, as already outlined previously in the article, candidates applying for the brand's casting calls should keep a clean and healthy-looking skin, sport neatly made hairstyles, and should be dressed in age-appropriate clothes, to give an overall natural impression.
H&M's casting calls can be found on their official website or social media accounts, but more often than not also available through online platforms like KidsCasting and talent agencies.
How To Land Opportunity With Gap
-
What To Know?
Gap is an American worldwide clothing and accessories retailer. It was founded in 1969 by Donald Fisher and Doris F. Fisher and is based in San Francisco, California. As of 2024, the Gap Inc. company is the largest specialty retailer in the United States and ranks third globally in terms of international locations with 3,560 stores, trailing behind only the aforementioned Zara and H&M, who are respectively the first and second in this list.
The Gap Inc. company operates four primary brands, or divisions, which are Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Athleta. These four brands make up the retailer's presence in over 40 countries.
-
Why Strive To Model For Gap?
Kids modeling for such a household name as Gap can certainly look forward to potentially opening even more doors for new career opportunities in the future.
With the various fashion brands and their campaigns, which often include headlines-capturing collaborations, Gap provides unique opportunities for kids to gain experience and collaborate with the industry's best, including renowned designers and photographers. Not only can aspiring model learn in action at the highest level of the industry, but the unavoidable networking at every step of the process can create connections that help their modeling career in the long run.
Gap is a great casting destination for children to apply for because the brand values diversity and inclusivity. Models in Gap campaigns typically wear stylish and comfortable clothes that showcase their own unique personalities, which can be amazing for kids looking to showcase themselves through modeling.
Kids modeling for Gap also receive various financial rewards, the amount of which varies depending on the type of gig they have.
-
What Gap Is Looking For In Child Models?
As parents and their children should already expect when trying to get cast by the major brands, Gap is looking for inspired and motivated aspiring models, who are ready to work and learn.
Gap does not require a mandatory modeling agency affiliation to consider candidates applying for casting calls, which can be found on their official website, social media accounts, and online platforms like KidsCasting.
The Bottom Line
Zara, H&M, and Gap hold a prominent position in the fashion industry and are globally recognized for their children’s clothing lines, which attract a large customer base worldwide.
With such a vast customer base that reaches local and international markets, kids modeling should work towards becoming featured in such renowned brand campaigns, because it can help gain further opportunities in the modeling industry or even in other fields, may the child later choose to pursue other things.
Importantly, reputable brands like Zara, H&M, and Gap ensure that the child model is involved in safe and ethical working conditions. These brands have previously addressed unethical child labor issues in the industry by implementing strict labor policies and adhering to international standards for children’s rights in fashion production.
This means that by choosing to try to work with these brands, child models and their parents can be assured that not only they could potentially gain various amazing career opportunities but also that they will be part of a responsible and ethical business environment.
