May 05th, 2022 – By Promostyl

THE UNLIKELY HEROES OF INCLUSIVE FASHION

In an increasingly socially conscious world, making high fashion accessible to all shapes and sizes is one of the top priorities, and while we would expect to see that effort coming from the most popular names in the industry, it seems that the goal is being achieved by the last people you’d ever think of ! 

First stop, we have Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS launching an adaptive collection for limited mobility. This latest product range marks an extension of the brand’s Fits Everybody collection which offers a broad range of color options and sizes. Addressing a gap in the accessibility market, the collection signals the company’s ‘solution-oriented’ spirit.

Describing the newly launched SKIMS Adaptive Collection, American track and field athlete Scout Bassett, notes: ‘Unlike other adaptive lines that feature zippers that are a little bit bulky, velcro which sticks to everything, or even magnets which are heavy and also create bulk, I really like that the hook-and-eye closure is very low profile. The SKIMS Adaptive Collection comprises four of the brand’s signature styles, each in four neutral colorways — clay, sienna, cocoa, and onyx. Priced from $18 for a thong up to $32 for a bralette, the pieces are designed for ease of use for those with limited mobility with their lay-flat hook-and-eye closures along the fronts and sides. Each piece is built with ultra-lightweight, micro-bonded construction around the fastenings, which avoid friction and remain barely visible beneath clothing.

In other words, the reality TV star/businesswoman/one of tabloids’ paparazzis biggest pay checks manage to include a community no one else has seemed to take time to think about AND made her products affordable ! 

Then we have pop star Lizzo, who tired of seeing “sad, restrictive shapewear that literally no one wanted to wear” decided she might as well take care of the problem herself and launched Yitty. 

For Yitty's first release, the singer debuted three different collections: “Nearly Naked,” a line of seamless shaping garments, “Mesh Me,” featuring transitional under- to outerwear pieces, and “Major Label,” an assortment of everyday lifestyle designs. Over 65% of the styles are made with recycled fibres and come in packaging made of 100% recycled materials. They also come in colours like “Tempo Lavender” and “Moody Bitch” and are available in sizes ranging from 6X to XS. The designs have also been fitted on “every size and body type—not merely scaled up (or down) for convenience.” In a press release introducing the brand, Lizzo explained, “Instead of thinking about size in this linear way, we’re thinking about it on a spectrum where everyone is included. Everyone’s size is just their size. It’s not high, it’s not low. It’s not big, it’s not small. It’s just your size.” 

After she made the decision that she was no longer going to feel bad or embarrassed about her body and celebrate it instead, Lizzo wanted to wear form-fitting pieces that enhanced rather than flattened her figure. “I was tired of seeing this sad, restrictive shapewear that literally no one wanted to wear. I had an epiphany like, ‘who can actually do something about this?’ I decided to take on the challenge of allowing women to feel 

Bottom line, while the big names and houses do a lot of talking about inclusivity and facilitating opening the industry up, turns out it is the people they use for publicity who beat them to the punch !