Exclusivity has been a trend since the 80s meaning whatever brand you wear is what makes you Important. Today trends are shifting to a more inclusive state so that any shapes, sizes or races can own a valuable piece. It doesn’t only apply to very famous high fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton, Balmain or Mugler, but it also applies to low costs brands too.
I grew up with two stepsisters who are plus sizes women. They’ve always had the sort of envy over me because I was smaller and skinnier I could fit in whatever clothes and I want and I could go shop wherever I want meanwhile they were stuck I’m going shopping at Pennington or whatever other plus size shops out there. Call people of whatever sizes should have the ability to dress however they want but the industry despise the plus-size community before what reason? I remember that the 90s trends were all about the skinnier the better all supermodels were tall twig figurines who walked on the runway and that’s what’s fueled the fat shaming.
Companies like Victoria’s Secret who are notorious for only having small sizes from extra small to just a large. The Victoria’s Secret angels were all skinny women. They never catered to the plus-size community because they viewed as extra fat being unattractive. And with the inclusivity movement this company is losing so much of their clients because everybody’s boycotting their products. Companies like savage X Fenty by Rihanna are built around this inclusivity movement. It’s a new lingerie company that caters to the skinniest ladies to the biggest plus size women out there. But it’s not only in her fashion sense that she was able to create such a thing, she also revamped the beauty industry. Her makeup company, Fenty Beauty, caters to all of the skin tones out there. She release at least 50 different shades of foundation so that everybody could have a base that matches each and every tones. Her beauty company also sells self-confidence by encouraging women to be themselves and to be their natural self. Her customers vary from the “no makeup” ladies to the most experienced makeup artists. Her products have elevated the beauty industry and her two fashion companies have elevated the fashion industry. As big of a star as she is it was no surprise that they were all a massive success
Despite this movement brands are still catering to some sizes. Companies like Brandy Mayville, who’s the one size fits all company and sirens who only caters to bigger sizes. I never shot of brandy Mayville because I just knew that my body could not wear this type of fashion because I do not support it first of all and second of all because it just does not fit me naturally but I did used to go shopping at sirens and a D used to fit me about three years ago until there was some sort of a change. When I went back there when summer even the XXS clothing did not fit me and I was wondering why. Sirens has figured out that most of their customers were just two sizes bigger because in reality their smallest size was the equivalency of a medium size US. And their sizes ranged up two XXL. So why would a company ditch smaller sizes for bigger sizes. Well there could be many reasons but I still haven’t figured it out yet.
Being inclusive in the fashion and beauty industry means that you’re welcoming every shapes, sizes, races and cultures. In a society that is being mixed with immigration, the customer’s values have shifted to a more accepting mentality and companies should do the same for marketing reasons but for also ethical reasons too.
Written by Jasmine Besner
April 4th 2021
(630 words)
The Language of Fashion 