Tim Gunn Calls for Designers to Make Clothes That Fit *All* American Women
"Designers, make it work."
It's New York Fashion Week, which means the internet is full of luxe outfits, gorgeous models, and enviable parties. Oh, and also Tim Gunn. The Project Runway mentor has penned a criticism of the fashion industry for The Washington Post, saying that designers don't make clothes in sizes that fit most American women.
As Gunn notes, the the average American woman wears between a size 16-18, and there are 100 million plus-size women in the country. "I've spoken to many designers and merchandisers about this. The overwhelming response is, 'I'm not interested in her.' Why?" Gunn asks. ''I don't want her wearing my clothes.' Why? 'She won't look the way that I want her to look.'"
Gunn calls the problem a "design failure and not a customer issue," and says "there is no reason larger women can't look just as fabulous as all other women." It's just a matter of making a few tweaks to the standard design process.
But practicalities aside, Gunn is concerned with the message being sent to plus-sized women. "Have you shopped retail for size 14-plus clothing?" he says. "Based on my experience shopping with plus-size women, it's a horribly insulting and demoralizing experience."
To be fair, NYFW 2015 featured plus-sized models at Marc Jacobs and Sophie Theallet, and Ashley Graham debuted her plus-size lingerie line—all of which Gunn notes. But this quote perhaps summarizes his thoughts best: "Simply making a nod toward inclusiveness is not enough."
To read more from Gunn, head here.
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Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm. She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.