One size will never fit all OPINION

The Paisano

Editorial Board

Mason Hickok | Editor-in-Chief Editor@paisano-online.com

The fashion industry has always struggled to be inclusive with sizes, but in recent years, people have stepped up and advocate for change.

Body positivity is about supporting acceptance and respect towards all body shapes; it is about pushing for societal change and helping everyone feel confident about their appearance. Unfortunately, to this day, some brands have not grown with this movement, as they continue not to be size-inclusive and continue to keep quiet about it. A prime example is Brandy Melville.

Brandy Melville is an Italian fashion brand marketed towards teenage girls and young women. The brand was established in 1970 by Silvio worldwide. Why is that?

Marsan and his son Stephan Marsan. Brandy Melville was launched in the U.S. in 2009, gaining significant popularity in 2014 after competing with well-known brands and ranking number one in up-trending brands, according to LDNFashion. The brand became popular through social media, being known for its “cool” and “relevant” fashion. While the brand has –– what seems to be –– good quality basics and trendy items, it has always been problematic because it carries one size.

Brandy Melville is a brand that most prominently features thin, blonde, White girls in their advertising, and also includes very limited sizes, yet it continues to sell. Because their market is aware of who they are, their market is okay with being part of a small population and having a store exclusive to their size and style. However, another reason brands like this continue to be successful is that they include petite sizes of good-quality clothes, which can be difficult to find at the reasonable prices Brandy Melville offers...

Laynie Clark | Managing Editor Manager@paisano-online.com and Gauri Raje | News Editor News@paisano-online.com

Jake Mireles | Opinion Editor Opinion@paisano-online.com

Riley Carroll | Arts & Life Editor Arts@paisano-online.com

Luke Lawhorn | Sports Editor Sports@paisano-online.com

Although Brandy Melville has received heavy criticism from the public for its lack of size-inclusivity, it has also gained popularity for the same reason. For many who are able to shop at Brandy Melville, it gives a sense of coolness and exclusivity, the same feelings Abercrombie & Fitch gave to teens in the early 2000s. Brandy Melville continues to be shamed by many, but it also continues to be a very successful fashion brand with hundreds of stores