Modeling Job and Sha’atnez

Question

I was just offered a modeling job for men’s apparel. I am supposed to put them on briefly for photo shoots. Some of them might have shatnes, but I have no way of knowing. What should I do about this?

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    It is a Torah prohibition to wear anything that has a mixture of wool and linen in it. While it is true that the some authorities permit trying on clothing even if it might contain Sha’atnez, it is only so because the person trying on the clothing is not getting any benefit from it. However, in your case, you are definitely gaining from wearing the clothing, as you are being paid to do so.

    But, having written that, I think that it is only a problem if you are modeling items of clothing that often contain Sha’atnez, such as men’s suits. If, however, you are modeling knitwear, for example, that very rarely has a Sha’atnez issue, I think that it is less of a problem, but it would still require your checking the label to see if there is a mixture of wool and linen in it. If there is, it would be forbidden to wear, which, I appreciate, could be the cause of much inconvenience, misunderstanding and ill-feeling in the middle of a shoot, as well as possibly, a breach of contract.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team