Mannequin sales for plus-size apparel displays are constantly on the rise. An increase in the retail of plus-size mannequin sales in the last ten years is a result of an increasing number of outlets retailing fashionable large-size clothes. This is certainly a good sign.
According to a February 2012 article in The Telegraph titled Surge in Sales of Adele-Sized Mannequins, “One of the UK’s largest shop mannequin companies reported a surge in orders for clothes dummies sized 12 and above. This is certainly good news for full-bodied women”.
What does this tell us? It’s simple; it just means that retailers have finally realised that the average woman out there is a size 14 and above and that a size 4 or 6 is not an accurate representation of the regular shopper.
It also tells us that for decades, the choices of plus-size and fat women shoppers have not been reflected in the clothing stores’ windows and shop floors.
Good News for the Plus-Sized Woman?
This might be good news for plus-size women. And mannequin companies are trying hard to keep up with the rising demand. At least women now believe that curves are gradually returning to the fashion and style scene.
In the summer of 2011, Italian Vogue celebrated curvy and fat models by having a front cover photo showing three gorgeous and stunning plus-sized women. The magazine’s editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani made a welcoming remark: “Why should these women slim down? Many of the women who have a few extra kilos are especially beautiful and more feminine.”
Also, research recently carried out tells us that about one in five women in the western world now demands plus-size clothing. Estimations show that the market for curvaceous women’s wear has increased by around 50% over a period of five years, from a modest £2.7bn to a whopping £4bn in 2011.
Now that more fashion designers and merchandisers know that the majority of women out there are full-figured, they now, more than ever, recognise the potential. Now, they are cashing in on the large plus-size market out there. It means more brand recognition and increased earning potentials running into tens of billions of pounds and dollars.
On the other hand, it’s a plus for the plus-size modelling industry. Model agencies now encourage modelling careers and services for large women because they need them to showcase the more beautiful plus-size clothes created for the large women who need them.
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