And for just as long, the models on the catwalks followed the same standard and were far from representing reality.
The change in mentality and the construction of an increasingly liberal and inclusive society generate the need to represent all people and all morphologies: by weight, by disabilities....
We are all looking for fashion that we feel comfortable in, that we can identify with and that is in line with our values.
Inclusive fashion, what is the true meaning?
First of all, the term inclusion defines the fact that someone is included and integrated into a whole. Inclusive fashion tries to take into account all types of bodies and people.
The Body Positive Movement
Body Positive is a social movement that advocates for the appreciation and acceptance of the human body. Simply put, all body types are valuable.
This movement argues that beauty is just a social construct that depends on cultures. It promotes self-esteem and diversity.
Inclusion in fashion: a new trend?
In recent years, inclusive fashion has become increasingly popular thanks to various movements. Nevertheless, the fight for the visibility of all people is not a new phenomenon. Many personalities and activists, such as Bethann Hardison, the first African model, or Ashley Graham, Vogue's first plus-size model, have fought to restore visibility to bodies that were then considered not to conform to the norm.
What are the limitations of some brands to offer more sizes?
1) Higher cost of development.
Environmental issues are not the only ones that arise with overproduction. Most brands produce only certain sizes to avoid higher development costs. This is because this fashion requires expertise and specialized professionals.
The reality is that the true average size of French women is a 42 rather than a 34. This represents a limit for a woman not to be able to dress the way she wants. With a size 46, there is 20 times less choice than with a size 34.
2) Technical challenges
The production of plus sizes requires a larger amount of fabric. If these garments are not sold, there is also the problem of storage, which creates additional costs.
3) Inclusion or differentiation?
Calling yourself an inclusive brand means offering a range of garments for all.
A large proportion of these brands that define themselves as "inclusive" develop completely different collections: some in so-called "standard sizes" and others in "plus-size" or "small" collections.
So to what extent is this differentiation inclusive?
The good news is that some brands are launching with collections from the smallest to the largest size in identical models.
Pre-orders: one of the solutions to make fashion more inclusive.
This system makes it possible to produce only the garments that have been ordered, avoiding unsold merchandise and textile waste.
This allows customers to order products in specific sizes, avoiding stock, since each product is designed on demand.
Men in inclusive fashion!
Have you ever noticed male plus-size models? The sector of plus-size men in our country is hardly noticed or represented in the national media, so there is a great lack of information on the subject and they are considered a minority.
Unlike Curvy Women, who receive more attention in the media, the image of male models always remains the same: some are thinner or androgynous, others muscular. The latter do not represent a large part of the male community.
Aatise: an inclusive brand from XXS - XXXL.
At Aatise, they are trying to achieve a more sustainable consumption of fashion. Each of us can contribute to consume less, but better.
Some of our women's and men's products are available in a wide range of sizes from XXS to XXL to make Ecoethicale fashion (environmentally responsible, ethical and local) accessible to all.
