kicking beauty standards to the kerb since 2016

H&M Has Come Under Fire Yet Again After A Customer Called Out Its Unrealistic Sizing

H&M Has Come Under Fire Yet Again After A Customer Called Out Its Unrealistic Sizing

I rarely shop at H&M, but when I have, the entire experience is frustrating, infuriating, or both. On the same shopping trip, I once bought something in a UK size 10 and another in a UK size 18. I, at the time, was a UK size 14. Also at the time, I suffered from horrific body image issues and felt that my worth was directly linked to the number on a clothing label. As a result, I tried avoiding the place as much as I could.

Proving that even years on, they still haven't been able to understand that inconsistent sizing loses people's affections, and this week they came under fire for their jeans.

Credit: Samantha Bell

Credit: Samantha Bell

Samantha Bell posted a photo on the body positive group Free To Be Ok With Me Facebook page of a comparison between a UK size 16 pair of skinny jeans from H&M and a pair from Primark. The photo shows a dramatic difference, will Bell actually measuring a 5.5 inch difference between the two pairs of jeans.

The post gained a lot of traction as people clapped back at H&M for encouraging unrealistic sizing, and some shared their awful experiences with the brand's products and in their stores. In fact the more I'm looking at the photo as I write, the angrier I'm getting.

Credit: Samantha Bell

Credit: Samantha Bell

Amongst all the uproar, an H&M representative responded saying: 'Our dedicated, in-house sizing department works according to an average of the sizes and measurement suggested by the markets we operate in. H&M sizes are continually reviewed by our in-house sizing department.'

Honestly, they'd have been better off not even saying anything, because what kind of response even is that? I personally also feel that if brands just step up and take responsibility for the bullshit that they pull, it would go down a whole lot better. Despite the little pointless representative statements, stores like H&M seem to be unable to fathom the level of damage that they're causing amongst their consumers, and won't allow themselves to be held accountable for it.

On a final note, a message to H&M: You can be good for the environment and good for people's body image at the same time. It's not rocket science. Just an idea.

 
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