Fashion

Questionable Product Names: The ‘Fatkini’

by Ally Batista
Stocksy

By no means am I always politically correct. Sometimes I say things that others would think are insensitive, but don’t get me wrong -- certain questionable statements definitely get me to raise my eyebrows.

Something that always makes me cringe is the use of the word "fat." Being someone who has struggled with weight and body image issues, I find it unsettling to hear someone, especially someone in the fashion industry, refer to another person as "fat."

I know that this new line is meant to promote a healthy body image, but I find it difficult to come to terms with the positive when the name of the article in question is so negative.

Gabi Gregg, also known as the blogger GabiFresh, has collaborated with swimsuitsforall to create a line of bikinis for women between the sizes of 10 and 24. As we all know, it’s difficult to find bikinis (especially cute ones) if you’re over a size 8, so Gregg’s intention is certainly good.

Gabi Gregg is known for her strong persona. She refuses to let people pressure her into doing or wearing anything she doesn’t want to, so if there was to be a designer of a plus-sized bathing suit line,she's the perfect candidate. Gregg teamed up with swimsuitsforall after her blog posts about wearing a bikini went viral, leading to countless other women wearing two-piece bathing suits, in some cases, for the first time.

President and CEO of swimsuitsforall, Moshe Laniado, said that the collaboration was a very natural experience:

“Gabi’s ‘fatkini’ stories shed light on the misconceptions about women, body image, and swimwear. The idea that all women can look amazing in a great swimsuit is what swimsuitsforall is about. Gabi’s story tore down old notions that sexy swimsuits are only for Sports Illustrated models.”

The collection is now available online, is reasonably priced and features beautiful designs. Again, I think this is a great idea: I’m just hung up on the term. I know, thought, that it can be empowering for some women to embrace a name they’ve been called their whole lives and use it in a positive light.

I fully respect those women, I’m just worried about the women who will shy away from this product because of it’s name. To my knowledge, the majority of women in this country do not feel comfortable calling themselves fat. Maybe it’s just me, what do you guys think?

Photo Credit: Getty Images