‘A 360 turn’: concern as fashion shows feature fewer plus-size models

Industry Insiders Warn of Erosion of Size Inclusivity as Fashion Shows Feature Fewer Plus-Size Models

The fashion industry's efforts to promote size inclusivity have taken a concerning turn, according to experts who report that the number of plus-size models featured in shows has declined significantly. A recent survey by Vogue Business found that just 0.9% of models presented at womenswear collections were plus-size, while only four out of 55 brands included a model with a non-straight size in Milan shows.

Industry insiders describe this trend as a "360 turn" back to promoting thinness, with some models feeling pressured to lose weight in order to secure more work in the mid-size market. Straight-size models are also facing pressure due to shrinking sample sizes.

The widespread use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs among celebrities and the normalization of thinness beyond catwalks have contributed to this decline. The growing demand for body modification procedures, including "Barbie waist" surgery, has further exacerbated the issue.

Anna Shillinglaw, founder of Milk Management model agency, notes that while there was a brief shift towards more inclusive casting in recent years, the industry has "literally done a 360 turn." Susie Orbach, psychotherapist and writer, adds that the commercialization of the body has led to people being manufactured as products rather than living from them.

The plus-size market is estimated to be worth over £4 billion in the UK, but it's becoming increasingly inaccessible to consumers. Brands such as H&M and River Island have removed dedicated plus-size sections from their stores, making ranges available online only.

Felicity Hayward, a plus-size model and writer, expresses her disappointment at designers like Rick Owens, who previously included more diverse models in his shows, now excluding plus-size models altogether. "If you are going to be progressive, you need to continue with progression," she says.

ugh this is what i've been saying for ages... we're supposed to be all about inclusivity but it seems like the fashion industry is just trying to sell us out ... a 0.9% plus-size model ratio in womenswear collections? that's like, literally nothing ... and now they're telling us that straight-size models are also under pressure because of shrinking sample sizes? that's just ridiculous... can we please just focus on getting more diverse sizes in stores already?!

Ugh just saw that the fashion industry is literally 180 degrees back from promoting size inclusivity its like they forget the whole "diversity matters" vibe we were talking about last year plus-size models are still worth so much more than that tiny percentage they deserve better

OMG, this is SO disappointing! Like I get it that the fashion industry is all about making money and selling stuff but honestly, can't we just make some room for everyone? I'm tired of seeing those super skinny models on the runway and thinking "wait a minute, what's going on here?" We need more diversity, not less. I love Felicity Hayward's statement, it's like "if you wanna be all progressive, keep being progressive"

Ugh this is so frustrating! I'm all for size inclusivity but it feels like the industry's just not committed enough. First they were trying to include more plus-size models, and now it seems like they're backing out. It's like, what's the point of having a diverse range if you're just gonna feature like 1% of those models? And don't even get me started on the pressure on straight-size models - I've seen friends who are perfectly healthy and happy struggle with body image issues because they feel like they need to be a certain size. It's just not fair! The plus-size market is huge, let's be real it's over £4 billion in the UK alone... can't we just make space for everyone?

omg u gotta believe the fashion industry is literally doing a 180 on size inclusivity just 0.9% of models in womenswear collections were plus-size?! that's crazy! celebs taking glp-1 drugs & normalizing thinness is super problematic and it's not like designers are making a big enough effort to promote diversity either felicity hayward is so right, if u wanna be progressive u gotta keep pushing for change

I don't buy into this "360 turn" narrative... can we get some actual numbers and studies to back up these claims? Like, how many shows were surveyed in that Vogue Business report? And what exactly does 0.9% of plus-size models mean in terms of context? Is it still better than nothing? I'd love to see more concrete data on this trend... and isn't it interesting that the industry is responding to growing demand for plus-size fashion by removing sizes from stores altogether? It's like they're pushing the market out there, but not making it accessible. Not buying into this notion of "progressive" fashion either... gotta see some real change in practice before I start cheering

[Image of a sad, stretched-out Barbie doll ]

sample sizes r shrinking but models r still expected 2 be thin body shaming in fashion rn

[ GIF of a scale going up and down rapidly ]

glp-1 weight loss drugs causing celebs & influencers 2 look like they were baked in oven

[ Meme of a person with a " Barbie waist" ]

designers r more worried about trends than the people w/ real bodies

i think its super concerning that fashion is having a 360 turn back to thinness . the plus size market is literally worth billions but its becoming super inaccessible for consumers. i mean like felicity said if u r going to be progressive, u need to keep pushing for more diversity and inclusivity . straight size models are feeling pressure too because of shrinking sample sizes . we need to start valuing all body types and not just the "perfect" one . maybe its time for designers to rethink their approach and prioritize body positivity over thinness ️.

"Change is the law of the universe." But it seems like fashion industry's progress towards size inclusivity has taken a step back and it's really disappointing for plus-size models & consumers. I think industry insiders are right in saying that there's been a "360 turn" back to promoting thinness, but we need more brands to be bold & inclusive in their casting & marketing strategies

I'm really disappointed to see the fashion industry taking a step back on size inclusivity . It's like they're trying to erase all the progress we made a few years ago . The fact that only 0.9% of models featured in shows are plus-size is just crazy . And it's not just about numbers, it's also about the message it sends to young people who look up to these models and designers as role models .

I think the industry needs to take a closer look at why they're doing this . Is it because of the pressure from celebrities who are using GLP-1 weight-loss drugs? Are they trying to fit into a certain mold that's not healthy or realistic for most people? I don't think so .

We need more designers like Rick Owens who are actually pushing the boundaries and promoting size inclusivity . And we need brands to listen to their customers and create dedicated plus-size sections in stores, not just online . It's time for a change . We can do better than this .

i feel like the fashion industry is takin a step back after all the progress we made in inclusivity plus size models rock and should be featured more often 0.9% is still super low but it's better than nothing we need to keep pushin for change and not let societal pressures dictate our worth brands are missin out on a huge market by neglectin plus size consumers

I think this trend is a concerning indication of the cyclical nature of beauty standards and societal pressures. The decline of plus-size models in fashion shows mirrors the larger narrative of body shaming and sizeism that perpetuates itself through media and advertising . It's disheartening to see brands like H&M and River Island abandoning their dedicated plus-size sections, essentially pricing out a significant consumer demographic . I'd love to see more collaborations between designers and plus-size models to create inclusive and diverse runway shows . The body modification industry is also a symptom of this problem, where people are treated as objects rather than individuals . We need to promote body positivity and self-acceptance through media representation and social norms .

omg i'm so down about this - it's crazy that the fashion industry is taking a step back on size inclusivity ! I mean, we're still waiting for major brands to make their plus-size sections available in stores, and now they're pulling them altogether? That just makes no sense. And don't even get me started on celebs using weight loss meds - it's like they're promoting an unrealistic beauty standard .

I think it's time for the industry to realize that size is just a number, you know? We need more brands showcasing diverse models and sizes, not less. And what's with all these "Barbie waist" surgeries? Can't we just love our bodies at whatever size they are?

I'm so tired of the fashion industry's inconsistency on size inclusivity . On one hand, they're all about promoting body positivity and diversity, but then you see this decline in plus-size models at shows. It's like they're taking a step back and saying "you know what? Thin is still in" . And it's not just the models who are affected, consumers are too - dedicated plus-size sections are disappearing from stores . We need to hold designers accountable for their actions and not just make empty promises about size inclusivity. The demand for body modification procedures is crazy , but we shouldn't have to resort to surgery to fit into a certain size range. Let's get back on track with promoting all sizes and body types .

The fashion industry is literally taking steps back into the dark ages when it comes to size inclusivity . I mean, come on, we've made progress in recent years and now we're seeing a 360 turn back to promoting thinness? It's not just about plus-size models, either - the entire industry is shrinking. They're pushing straight-size models to lose weight for mid-size jobs, which is super unhealthy and unrealistic .

It's also super concerning that celebs are being normalized as "thin" by taking GLP-1 weight-loss drugs . Newsflash: just because you're on the cover of Vogue doesn't mean you're not still a human being with needs and flaws .

The plus-size market is literally worth billions, but brands like H&M and River Island are making it super inaccessible by removing dedicated sections . And don't even get me started on body modification procedures... it's like we're trying to create the perfect "Barbie" doll or something .

I'm all for progress, but when does it come at the cost of our health and self-acceptance? Let's keep pushing for size inclusivity, not just because it's trendy, but because it's basic human decency .

I'm literally shocked by this news . I remember when fashion was all about embracing individuality and self-expression, not just physical appearance. Now it's like the industry has taken a step back in time. I mean, who doesn't love a girl in a plus-size model, you know?

It's crazy to think that the body positivity movement is being rolled back, especially with all the celebrities out there getting surgery to achieve those "Barbie waist" proportions . It's like, can't we just be happy with who we are? I'm not saying everyone should wear plus-size clothes, but why should they have to hide their curves?

And don't even get me started on the lack of options for us size-inclusive shoppers. H&M and River Island removing plus-size sections from stores is just ridiculous . We need more brands that cater to our needs, not less.

I guess I'm just an old soul, but it seems like we're regressing to a time when fashion was all about conforming to societal standards. Not cool, guys .