As women’s average clothing size in the US shifts to size 16 or 18, US data shows that about 70% of women wear a size 14 or higher, and mainstream retailers are struggling to stock plus sizes in stores.
The inconsistency and limited availability of plus sizes, coupled with major brands scaling back in-store offerings, frustrate shoppers who are increasingly aware that expanded size ranges do not always translate to meaningful change. Despite clear growing demand for true, size inclusivity, many fashion retailers
continue to fall short, including Old Navy removed many plus-size options from hundreds of stores despite their highly promoted Bodequality initiative, citing lower-than-expected store demand, while keeping the full range online.
H&M has drawn criticism for quietly removing photos of plus-size models from its website’s plus-size section and for only offering sizes up to XL or XXL in stores, with true plus sizes (like 3X and 4X) mostly available online.
Most recently, Lululemon staff told a customer seeking a plus-size bra in her size that she would need to travel 20 miles to a select store that stocks large sizes .
Major brands have retreated from serving much of the $125 billion-plus global plus-size market —expected to top $202 billion by 2034—leaving countless shoppers underserved…
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