‘Fatphobic’ Aussie fashion labels leaving shoppers ‘deflated’

Top Australian fashion brands are being called to “do better” after an influencer called out “dehumanising fatphobia” in the industry.

Stylist and non-binary influencer Deni Todorovic has called out top Australian fashion brands for being “fatphobic”.

Todorovic, who uses they/them pronouns, has worked in the fashion industry, was previously a style editor at Cosmopolitan magazine and is a LGBTQIA+ activist.

In an Instagram post, which has attracted more than 1160 comments, Todorovic said they were “positively bamboozled” by the lack of inclusivity in the fashion industry.

Todorovic called out brands, including Kookai; Rachel Gilbert; Bec and Bridge; Scanlan and Theodore; Zimmerman; Alemais; Camilla and Marc and L’idee.

A L’idee spokeswoman said the founder has “reached out” to Deni to ensure they “feel as comfortable as everyone else in their piece”.

“L’idee Woman are an inclusive and diverse brand who celebrate all. L’idee have always ranged beautiful flowing pleated garments from size 6 - 14, with the addition of custom made pieces that are available on request, in line with their slow fashion philosophy,” she said.

The other brands have been contacted by news.com.au for comment.

“Globally consumers cheer when a brand extends their sizes to a 24, yet here we’re lucky if a brand decides to size up to an 18 or at the very least creates an ‘extended sizing’ range,” Todorovic said in a written post accompanying the video.

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LGBTQI activist and stylist Deni Todorovic has called out Australian fashion labels for “fatphobia”. Picture: Toby Zerna

Todorovic said the decision not to cater for larger bodies was a “conscious choice made by brands to not invite people into their brands but rather exclude”.

“It’s any wonder that anyone who is not a straight size finds the idea of shopping deflating and dehumanising,” they said.

“Aside from the fact that it’s a missed business opportunity it speaks to a broader, deeper more insidious issue of which fashion has always had.

“You’re only allowed in, if you look like the unrealistic beauty standards we will continue to set for you. Fashion should support self-expression, not self-loathing.”

Todorovic said it should be easy for Australians of all sizes to find clothes they love.

“If you are about a size 12 Australian that is not the case. I have gone from store to store to store. I am exhausted,” Todorovic said, following a recent shopping trip to Melbourne’s Chadstone.

Australian influencer, who is non-binary, Deni Todorovic has called out thefashion industry for fatphobia.

Todorovic labelled Australian brands the worst offenders, with the lack of diversity creating a “dehumanising” experience for shoppers.

“(The) amount of these brands that stop at a size 12 and some carry up to a 14, some to a 16. The amount of things I found today that I loved that stopped at a size 12 was just so disappointing,” Todorovic said.

Todorovic said many of these brands were failing to cater for the “average size of the Australian woman,” which they said was 14-16.

Olivia Molly Rogers has thrown her support behind Deni Todorovic’s Instagram post.. Picture: Mark Stewart

The post attracted a flurry of comments, including from well-known blogger Adele Barbaro.

“I cannot agree more,” Barbaro wrote.

“I’m a 14. I walk out feeling completely deflated after clothes shopping. They often don’t even acknowledge me in some of the mentioned shops.”

Former Miss Universe Olivia Rogers wrote: “Thank you for sharing Deni, brands need to do better.”

Comedian Em Rusciano wrote: “usually have to ask for my size (10) from ‘out the back’ in most of those Aussie designer boutiques because for some unknown reason they only hang the 6 & the 8’s!! WHY DEN?! WHY?!”

Originally published as ‘Fatphobic’ Aussie fashion labels leaving shoppers ‘deflated’