No this isn’t the latest ‘Derelicte’ runway show (though there’ll be no surprises if the trend hits Fashion Week next year.)
Thick levels of air pollution in east China meant models were forced to wear surgical masks at a gold jewellery show in Jiangsu province at the weekend.
Levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) have reached as high as 40 times World Health Organisation limits, thanks to the country’s rapid urbanisation, economic development and climactic factors.
Models were forced to wear surgical masks during the catwalk show in Jiangsu province
The winter months in particular have seen cities across China hit by heavy smog, much of it caused by emissions from coal-burning power stations.
Media reports say the unnamed girl has become the mainland's youngest cancer patient, with her illness attributed directly to environmental factors.
Smog fashion show
CHINA-ENVIRONMENT-POLLUTION(01 of15)
This picture taken on December 7, 2013 shows a model wearing a surgical mask as she parades a collection of gold jewelleries at a park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province. Cities across China have been hit by intense air pollution especially in winter months, much of it caused by emissions from coal-burning power stations, with PM 2.5 levels reaching as high as 40 times WHO limits, while the country's rapid urbanisation, dramatic economic development and climatic factors, further worsen the condition. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CHINA-ENVIRONMENT-POLLUTION(02 of15)
This picture taken on December 7, 2013 shows a model wearing a surgical mask as she parades a collection of gold jewelleries at a park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province. Cities across China have been hit by intense air pollution especially in winter months, much of it caused by emissions from coal-burning power stations, with PM 2.5 levels reaching as high as 40 times WHO limits, while the country's rapid urbanisation, dramatic economic development and climatic factors, further worsen the condition. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CHINA-ENVIRONMENT-POLLUTION(03 of15)
This picture taken on December 7, 2013 shows a model wearing a surgical mask as she parades a collection of gold jewelleries at a park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province. Cities across China have been hit by intense air pollution especially in winter months, much of it caused by emissions from coal-burning power stations, with PM 2.5 levels reaching as high as 40 times WHO limits, while the country's rapid urbanisation, dramatic economic development and climatic factors, further worsen the condition. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CHINA-ENVIRONMENT-POLLUTION(04 of15)
This picture taken on December 7, 2013 shows a model wearing a surgical mask as she parades a collection of gold jewelleries at a park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province. Cities across China have been hit by intense air pollution especially in winter months, much of it caused by emissions from coal-burning power stations, with PM 2.5 levels reaching as high as 40 times WHO limits, while the country's rapid urbanisation, dramatic economic development and climatic factors, further worsen the condition. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CHINA-ENVIRONMENT-POLLUTION(05 of15)
This picture taken on December 7, 2013 shows a model wearing a surgical mask as she parades a collection of gold jewelleries at a park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province. Cities across China have been hit by intense air pollution especially in winter months, much of it caused by emissions from coal-burning power stations, with PM 2.5 levels reaching as high as 40 times WHO limits, while the country's rapid urbanisation, dramatic economic development and climatic factors, further worsen the condition. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CHINA-ENVIRONMENT-POLLUTION(06 of15)
This picture taken on December 7, 2013 shows a model wearing a surgical mask as she parades a collection of gold jewelleries at a park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province. Cities across China have been hit by intense air pollution especially in winter months, much of it caused by emissions from coal-burning power stations, with PM 2.5 levels reaching as high as 40 times WHO limits, while the country's rapid urbanisation, dramatic economic development and climatic factors, further worsen the condition. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CHINA-ENVIRONMENT-POLLUTION(07 of15)
This picture taken on December 7, 2013 shows a model wearing a surgical mask as she parades a collection of gold jewelleries at a park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province. Cities across China have been hit by intense air pollution especially in winter months, much of it caused by emissions from coal-burning power stations, with PM 2.5 levels reaching as high as 40 times WHO limits, while the country's rapid urbanisation, dramatic economic development and climatic factors, further worsen the condition. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CHINA-ENVIRONMENT-POLLUTION(08 of15)
This picture taken on December 7, 2013 shows a model wearing a surgical mask as she parades a collection of gold jewelleries at a park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province. Cities across China have been hit by intense air pollution especially in winter months, much of it caused by emissions from coal-burning power stations, with PM 2.5 levels reaching as high as 40 times WHO limits, while the country's rapid urbanisation, dramatic economic development and climatic factors, further worsen the condition. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CHINA-ENVIRONMENT-POLLUTION(09 of15)
This picture taken on December 7, 2013 shows models wearing surgical masks as they parade a collection of gold jewelleries at a park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province. Cities across China have been hit by intense air pollution especially in winter months, much of it caused by emissions from coal-burning power stations, with PM 2.5 levels reaching as high as 40 times WHO limits, while the country's rapid urbanisation, dramatic economic development and climatic factors, further worsen the condition. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CHINA-ENVIRONMENT-POLLUTION(10 of15)
This picture taken on December 7, 2013 shows models wearing surgical masks as they parade a collection of gold jewelleries at a park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province. Cities across China have been hit by intense air pollution especially in winter months, much of it caused by emissions from coal-burning power stations, with PM 2.5 levels reaching as high as 40 times WHO limits, while the country's rapid urbanisation, dramatic economic development and climatic factors, further worsen the condition. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CHINA-ENVIRONMENT-POLLUTION(11 of15)
This picture taken on December 7, 2013 shows models wear surgical masks as they parade a collection of gold jewelleries at a park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province. Cities across China have been hit by intense air pollution especially in winter months, much of it caused by emissions from coal-burning power stations, with PM 2.5 levels reaching as high as 40 times WHO limits, while the country's rapid urbanisation, dramatic economic development and climatic factors, further worsen the condition. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CHINA-ENVIRONMENT-POLLUTION(12 of15)
This picture taken on December 7, 2013 shows models wear surgical masks as they parade a collection of gold jewelleries at a park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province. Cities across China have been hit by intense air pollution especially in winter months, much of it caused by emissions from coal-burning power stations, with PM 2.5 levels reaching as high as 40 times WHO limits, while the country's rapid urbanisation, dramatic economic development and climatic factors, further worsen the condition. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CHINA-ENVIRONMENT-POLLUTION(13 of15)
This picture taken on December 7, 2013 shows models wearing surgical masks as they parade a collection of gold jewelleries at a park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province. Cities across China have been hit by intense air pollution especially in winter months, much of it caused by emissions from coal-burning power stations, with PM 2.5 levels reaching as high as 40 times WHO limits, while the country's rapid urbanisation, dramatic economic development and climatic factors, further worsen the condition. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO/STR (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CHINA-ENVIRONMENT-POLLUTION(14 of15)
This picture taken on December 7, 2013 shows models wearing surgical masks as they parade a collection of gold jewelleries at a park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province. Cities across China have been hit by intense air pollution especially in winter months, much of it caused by emissions from coal-burning power stations, with PM 2.5 levels reaching as high as 40 times WHO limits, while the country's rapid urbanisation, dramatic economic development and climatic factors, further worsen the condition. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO/STR (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CHINA-ENVIRONMENT-POLLUTION(15 of15)
This picture taken on December 7, 2013 shows models wearing surgical masks as they parade a collection of gold jewelleries at a park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu province. Cities across China have been hit by intense air pollution especially in winter months, much of it caused by emissions from coal-burning power stations, with PM 2.5 levels reaching as high as 40 times WHO limits, while the country's rapid urbanisation, dramatic economic development and climatic factors, further worsen the condition. CHINA OUT AFP PHOTO/STR (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)