BULLETS IN MY PRADA BAG

A Letter to Plus Size Fashion, WRITING: Blake Campbell LAYOUT: Jomarie Cortese

Hey. Long time, I rarely see you in stores. How are you? I’ve been hearing about everything that’s going on. In short, I’m sorry. You deserve better than that, let me elaborate.

I’m sorry you aren’t seen as fashionable. It’s not your fault; everyone just ignored your needs. How were they supposed to know that plus-size people exist and want to look good too? I mean, sure, the normal collection fits within trends and the plus-size doesn’t, but at least their sizing goes to a 3XL, isn’t that great? And sure, the fads that come and go you can’t participate in, but at least you can give money to the same brand that won’t accommodate your body in their subpar plus-size collection. At the very least, you’re being included for once, so that’s something. I know it sucks to go into a store, find a cute piece of clothing and unfortunately realize that your size was never there. I’m also sorry about your experience with “regular” fashion. When someone does pay attention to you and creates inclusive sizing, you get told the clothing isn’t made for the body types you accommodate. Like that whole baby doll tee trend? Where people were shopping in the children’s section of a thrift store and you were forced to either sit it out or be told it wasn’t for you? Yeah. The twinge of pain I felt for you is still there.

Another thing, even though we all know it’s bad, I get why you’ll go to fast fashion for help. Stores won’t make their lines inclusive and mega-corporations are already exploiting their workers; it won’t be any more difficult for them to produce plus-sizes for collections because of how much they save by underpaying their workers. I know that’s something a thin person has probably never dealt with, having to pay more for a larger size when the production process of the piece doesn’t change. But I know it’s a reality for you, and – for that, I’m sorry.

I’m also sorry that sizing is so fucked up. I know that’s blunt, but think about it. You aren’t being included because each brand, label or company has its own sizing standards. There is no universal sizing to help you. The only reason you’ve trudged along for so long, is for you to have accurate measurements of yourself and the company providing measurements for each garment, which still isn’t as commonplace as it seems. Vanity sizing is another factor… why is one garment considered an XL by one brand and a 3XL by another’s standards? I know that this messed with your view of yourself, leading you to feel as if you’re seen as a burden for wanting to be inclusive. I’m sorry you’re trying and it seems like no one else is.

Here’s how I’ve come to understand how you’ve been screwed over. Fads have accelerated from once being a yearly occurrence, to having a new one on an almost weekly basis now. The amount of influence that TikTok holds on the fashion industry is unreal. For example, haute couture runway clothing looks out of style because we have moved through those specific trends already. Instead of haute couture setting the trends for the fashion industry’s upcoming year, they have been caught lagging behind internet fads, and the only people able to produce at the current speed are fast fashion brands. Since most of their customers are skinny, they are only going to release collections that go to a size XL at the most to increase their profits. Brands would rather make a quick buck now than hold off on production for a longer time period than what seems like a week to accommodate different sizes. I am talking about multi-million dollar companies. They won’t tank by waiting slightly longer, although I know it’s hard for brands to keep up with the current trend cycle’s acceleration. There is a predictive trend software from companies such as Worth Global Style Network (WGSN) that have trends mapped out for years. It won’t be difficult for them to use that to predict what to make next, that way they can make it inclusive and you can be included.

Readers, if you found some empathy in your heart to read this far, here’s a reminder: try to slow down on your own clothing consumption. You don’t have to be at the forefront of every trend that rolls across your “For You Page”. It’s okay to slow down before you click purchase.

In the end, all you can focus on is what you can do. Keep pushing boundaries as what is seen as acceptable on all body types because it’s just clothing; it doesn’t define the person it dresses. Plus Size Fashion, again, hear my apology and hopefully things will be better soon.

Sincerely,

A Person Who Can Relate

In the end, all you can focus on is what you can do. Keep pushing boundaries.

Content Director: Tara Anastasoff Content Assistants: Melina de Groot, Eli Huszagh, Lindsay Bolinger, Trinity Gates Styling: Issy Regas, Harper Brand Beauty: Alexandra Catalano, Natalie Bacome Photography: Jocelyn Peña, Natalie Gillis Videography: Amal Supariwala Writing: Isabella Nitin Patel Layout: Emma Fender, Sydney Burton Bag Sourcing: Agora and Cara Benevenia

SiniSter tran

It was a brisk, chilly Monday morning in Paris when chaos suddenly erupted in the office building of a popular satirical newspaper -- Charlie Hebdo. In the midst of the mayhem, twelve people were killed and eleven injured by two brothers armed with rifles and other deadly weapons. Further investigation into the attack resulted in a compelling finding. The attackers had funded their act of terrorism through trafficking counterifeit sportswear. Counterfeit products are not what usually comes to mind when equating proceeds that fund terrorism, but this sinister act is not isolated.

In a world dominated by democracies rooted in capitalism, total ethical consumption is nearly impossible to accomplish, especially within the fashion industry. To combat the implications of fast fashion and thrifting, many people have resorted to purchasing counterfeit products. Consumers are attracted to fake goods for a plethora of reasons, such as their ability to be produced quickly to follow fashion trends and them being widely available in the market. Nevertheless, the most vital attraction of these products is their cheap price. Consumers want to be able to buy luxury products at a reasonable, affordable price and counterfeit products soothe their desires. This shift in consumer behavior may seem rather harmless, but it is shockingly malevolent. The two trillion dollar underground economy of counterfeit products fund acts of terrorism aross the globe on a daily basis, and there is no current legislation to prevent these heinous acts.

ranSactionS

For the sake of brevity and simplicity, counterfeit fashion can be defined as a replication of a product that is intended to be fraudulently presented as genuine. The counterfeit industry is more complex than just an individual selling cheap handbags on the bustling streets of New York City. It is a global operation that is funded through immensely wealthy business professionals who partake in fraudulent business transactions that primarily occur through online platforms.. No products are off limits when it comes to the counterfeit industry. Pursues, handbags, belts, and jewelry are just a brief snapshot of all the items that are being traded everyday to fund terrorism. These items are rotten from the core. Counterfeit products have approximately a two hundred percent profit margin resulting in mammoth funding towards the purchasing of ammunition, weapons, and explosion ingredients that will be used to terrorize individuals globally. This two trillion dollar economy has been immensely enabled by the emergence of technology. Online purchases allow for transactions to be swift and discrete, which is the perfect breeding ground for the counterfeit industry. With high volume and seamless transactions, consumers are contributing copious amounts of money to fund terrorism without any awareness.

How can the average consumer be consionable of their purchasing implications? Is it fair to say that humans should stop purchasing counterfeit products entirely? Well, it is a rather difficult and sticky situation to navigate, but not impossible. First and foremost, this is not an individual consumer issue, instead it is the institution of organized crime that has led to the manipulation of proceeds. As mentioned earlier, there is no ethical consumption under capitalism and malicious intent is hard to uncover independently. When browsing through websites with the intent to purchase items that may have counterfeit substitutions, there are a few simple steps you can take to avoid: Avoid outdated domains, look for trigger words, such as “master copy” & “straight from factory,”, avoid domains that do not include “https,”, and avoid websites that lack an “contact us” page/information. Malevolence runs rampant through capitalistic societies, and even the most careless purchases can result in astronomical effects.