Plus Size Fashion and The Retailers That Are Out Front
It is estimated that roughly 60 percent of women globally wear over a size 15. This, in the clothing and fashion realm, is regarded as the start of plus or extended sizes. Given this information, there have been few, or close to no efforts at fixing the problems with plus size fashion dynamics. Ranging from gaping holes to sagging bottoms, tight thigh portions when it comes to jeans, plus size fashion has quite the number of issues to address. Even though there exist certain high-end shops that adequately stock up on plus size fashion, there are extremely few mid to low-level shops that do the same.
When shops and boutiques fail to stock up on a plus size collection, it not only discriminates against those affected but also sends out the message that plus size individuals are unwanted.
When it comes to stocking up on clothing, emphasis should not only be placed on the number size but the cut of the clothing as well. But this is all changing, albeit not as quickly as a majority of individuals may have hoped. Due to its portrayal in the media as being unflattering or unattractive, being plus size and looking for plus size clothing can be an extremely excruciating task. This is mainly because the fashion industry praises itself on enforcing what is hip and what is hot. To the eyes of most salted and even current designers, plus size fashion is not an as “exciting” venture. Some of these designers or clothing brands may argue that plus size individuals may not shop as frequently and therefore investments towards their clothing preferences may yield loses in the long-term. Some designers would additionally argue that they would not want to design their clothes in plus sizes because they don’t see the practicality in it, or out rightly would not want their clothing in plus sizes.
Even though some brands have taken up the concept of plus size clothing, most of them still don’t adhere to the buyers’ needs. A common instance is the scaling up of regular size clothes. This normally means that even though the clothes might be bigger, their fit is never, or hardly ever proportional. This leave customers very dissatisfied as the clothing might give the appearance of having on rags or clothing of that manner.
Given all the stereotyping surrounding being plus sized, a lot of major clothing franchises, some having been around for decades, still maintain that investing in plus size clothing is not as much a pressing issue. Because of this stance, however, a new ray of hope has emerged. Smaller retailers and startups have quickly come up to address the issue. Interacting frequently with customers, as well as actively collecting data on the field, these designers have been able to close the clothing gap between plus and regular size. Coupled with the continual change in general opinion, these groups stand to even outdo their older, more salted rivals. In this context, it is only a matter of time before this debate becomes a thing of the past.
