Fashion

Old Navy Is Body-Shaming By Charging More For Plus-Sized Clothing

by Gigi Engle
Stocksy

The rage of the public voice has come down on the head of Old Navy after it was reported the company charges more for its plus-sized women's clothing than it does for “regular”-sized women's clothes.

What's more, Old Navy doesn't apply these standards to its men's plus-sized clothing.

So, the brand is being accused of both size-shaming and fat-shaming its female clientele.

While men are of all sizes are paying the same amount for their clothes, women are paying $12 to $15 more on the same garments in plus sizes.

More than 20,00 signatures have appeared on a Change.org petition to stop the company from continuing this practice.

In a public response, Old Navy said:

Old Navy is proud to offer styles and apparel designed specifically for the plus size customer. For women, styles are not just larger sizes of other women's items, they are created by a team of designers who are experts in creating the most flattering and on-trend plus styles, which includes curve-enhancing and curve-flattering elements such as four-way stretch materials and contoured waistbands, which most men's garments do not include. This higher price point reflects the selection of unique fabrics and design elements.

So, as Time puts it, “More details, more money.”

But, Old Navy misses the mark with this response.

While it's great the company offers clothing for its more curvaceous patrons, why is it that plus-sized garments should be more expensive when the same, smaller sizes are offered in the same amount of detail?

The logic seems to be entirely contradictory.

And if “more fabric” and “more detail” were needed for bigger sizes, wouldn't the price discrepancy apply to men's clothing as well?

Further still, obesity is becoming an increasingly dire issue in the United States.

According to PRB.org, while high income corresponds with increased weight in other countries, lower income is directly linked to obesity in the United States.

That isn't to say being overweight is a direct correlation to being poor, but it's certainly a fact to consider when pondering the satisfaction of the customer.

If plus-sized clothing is sold at a higher price point than regular sizes, the company would be doing its consumers a disservice on a grander scale.

This is just a one of many body-shaming stories we've seen in the media lately, and we hope that some regulations can be put into place.

Citations: Old Navy Explains Why It Charges More for Womens Plus Sizes (Time)