US media: "One-size-fits-all" clothing is dividing young people
2024-08-10
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Image source: Visual China
Compiled by China New Crown
According to the Wall Street Journal, clothing brands that use "one size fits all" as a gimmick are becoming popular among young people, and they are seen as exclusive brands for "slim girls."
"One-size-fits-all" clothing is mostly basic and affordable. While it is very popular among young people, it also often causes controversy. In order to highlight the brand's fashion sense, the salespersons of this type of clothing brand are mostly "slim blondes", who are considered to "lead the wrong trend among young people."
The Wall Street Journal pointed out that one-size-fits-all clothing is not suitable for everyone, which makes young people more obsessed with it. People believe that by wearing it, they will become a member of the slim group.
Rachel Fradkin, a sixth-grader from New Jersey, said that being able to wear one-size-fits-all clothing means you are a "classy, popular person" among your classmates, and everyone wants to make friends with you.
Alex Frank, a high school student in Tennessee, USA, will visit local "one-size-fits-all" brand stores wherever she travels. From London, England to Lisbon, Portugal, she has left footprints in "one-size-fits-all" brand stores in many cities. In Frank's opinion, such brands are "one of the few clothing brands that are cute, fashionable and affordable."
Chinonye Alilonu, 20, is a student at the University of Pennsylvania. Since middle school, she wanted to go shopping at "one-size-fits-all" clothing stores, but she gradually found that the clothes there were not suitable for her.
"I thought about losing weight, but then I realized that was a stupid idea," Alilonu said.
The Wall Street Journal pointed out that clothing brands that use "one size fits all" as a marketing tool have different business philosophies from other clothing brands. The latter are willing to provide consumers with a variety of size options, and some will use models with "racial diversity and body diversity." However, they also face some problems, such as the shortage of medium-sized clothing that most customers want, and the large and small-sized clothing are in large stockpiles.
The Wall Street Journal pointed out that "limited size options" can give "one-size" brands a competitive advantage: the smaller the size of the clothes, the less material is needed to make them, which is more conducive to improving economic efficiency. However, such brands often do not mention this in their publicity, but instead make a fuss about "fashion attitude".
Some argue that models for "one-size" brands, which are often blonde teenagers dressed in T-shirts, tight vests, sweaters and jeans, can give their peers the wrong impression.
According to the Wall Street Journal, some one-size-fits-all clothing brands have fired employees for not "fitting the typical white teenage look." Some former employees confirmed that being hired by such brands "depends to some extent on the applicant's appearance." But such criticisms are unlikely to undermine the appeal of one-size-fits-all clothing brands to their target audience.
"All my friends wear 'one size fits all' brands to school, it's a status symbol," said Anna Sekula, 17.
Mira Patel, 14, lives in Minnesota, USA. After seeing almost all her friends wearing "one-size-fits-all" clothing, she felt pressured to do the same. Patel's mother doesn't like "one-size-fits-all" clothing, believing that such clothing conveys "negative body-related messages" to young people, but it is difficult for her to change her daughter's mind.
"My daughter and I made an agreement that she could only spend her own money, not mine, at the one-size-fits-all clothing store," Patel's mother said.
Under pressure from public opinion, some "one-size" clothing brands tried to offer more sizes, which caused dissatisfaction.
Mia Griggs, 18, is petite. She said on social media that it is difficult for her to buy clothes that fit her body. In her opinion, since "plus-size" girls can have clothing brands that fit their bodies, "one-size" girls can also have clothing brands that fit them.
"I know 'one-size' brands are controversial because of the limited sizes they offer, but I believe that women of all shapes and sizes have the right to buy clothes that fit them and make them feel confident," said Griggs.
The Wall Street Journal pointed out that young people are easily influenced by external comments. Some young girls have a negative impression of their bodies because they cannot wear the "one size fits all" clothes.
Claire Rael, 15, lost weight because she couldn't fit into the "one-size-fits-all" clothing, which led to eating disorders. "I felt I didn't deserve to wear these clothes." After realizing that something was wrong, Rael began to seek help from a doctor.
Source: China Youth Daily Client
