'Fat tax': how fashion industry 'fat shames' plus size customers

Are you familiar with the term 'fat tax'? No, we are not talking about the tax that is levied on junk food to curb obesity.

What is a fat tax?
'Fat tax' in the world of fashion refers to the extra amount that is charged from customers for outfits beyond a certain size.

While many clothing and skincare brands are breaking the so-called 'beauty standards' by featuring models of all sizes and complexions in ads, fashion shows and catalogue shoots, several high-end luxury brands continue to body-shame people for being fat, especially soon-to-be brides.

Two shirts might be exactly the same but the plus-size customer ends up paying a little more as the bigger size is priced higher. As unsettling and discriminatory as it sounds, retailers justify the extra charge by saying that extra fabric increases the budget of the product.

But fabric hardly constitutes more than 5-6% of the total cost of the garment and the clothing items already have a huge profit margin.

Between brands that don't make plus-size clothes and those that charge you extra for being an XL, it's rather unfair and contradictory that the same brandsfeature plus-size models to highlight inclusivity.

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