The World Doesn't Stop At A Size 16

Looking into the fatphobic British fashion landscape and how the average size of our population isn't reflected in the traditional sizing we see available. Written by Rae, images by Wolf Eyebrows and The Unit London.

Via Wolf Eyebrows and The Unit London.

When looking at the landscape, we can't help but question the sizing in both high street and high-end sectors. We see the average British consumer as a size 16, so what's the reason for the majority of brands to not stock this size or larger, other than fatphobia?

The luxury sector is branded as 'exclusive', fueled by inaccessibility, racism and body shaming. It's not right, but it's expected that the sample size will be small, the models will be small and the clothes themselves will be small - unless you have the pennies to buy made-to-order or custom work. Personally, the shock comes that high street is following close behind this mentality.

High street has acted as an accessible gateway into fashion, allowing for different aims, consumers and body types. The problem strikes when we find brands, British born brands, not stocking past a size 16, or in some cases a size 12 or 14. As a bystander, it's only fair to question - if the average, not biggest but average, size in Britain is a 16, how do we justify not producing clothing to fit this standard?

Looking into ethics, particularly pertaining to the rise of sustainable retailers; it's not fair to label yourselves an ethical brand if your size large, the largest size you carry, is a size 12. Despite creating a more eco-friendly landscape, this only perpetuates the pressures of the female body in a social-crazed society - also, once again, making 'sustainable' clothing inaccessible to normal people and normal bodies.

Also looking at non-British brands who have extended to our high street, yet failed to adapt to fit our climate and consumer needs. An example of this being with Inditex; though parent company, Zara, tends to stock a wide range of clothing sizes, other brands under their control, like Pull and Bear and Bershka, have extremely harmful sizings to a British consumer.

Stocking plus size won't make you any less prestige, it'll just demonstrate to your consumers that you don't actually hate women.

It's time to normalise real bodies. Fashion is for everyone.

Sources: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/london-fashion-week/the-average-size-in-the-uk-is-a-16-so-why-dont-we-see-that-on-th/