News / Society
Slim models withdrawn after Bristol complaint
Topshop have agreed to stop using skinny mannequins to display jeans after a shopper in Bristol hit out at their “ridiculously tiny” size.
Laura Berry, from Stroud, pictured the mannequins at the Cribbs Causeway store and posted her anger at a “lack of concern for a generation of extremely body-conscious youth” on the store’s Facebook.
The store apologised in a public reply, adding that they would no longer be stocking the models.
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Berry’s original post said she had headed to Cribbs Causeway on her day off to buy a new pair of her favourite Jamie jeans, but was shocked at the mannequin on display.
Posting alongside the picture on Facebook, she wrote: “This mannequin is frankly ridiculously shaped.
“Young women aspire to the somewhat cult image your store offers. Which I’m sure you’re aware by your sales figures and hashtags on Instagram.
“Yet not one mannequin in your store showed anything bigger than a size six.
“In fact I’m not even sure the one in the picture is even that.”
Berry went on to say that while she is “old and wise enough” not to feel the pressure, there are teenagers who could be left “wondering if that was what was expected of our bodies”.
Concerned at the pressure young girls face today, she concluded Topshop had a “lack of concern for a generation of extremely body-conscious youth”.
She added: “To be honest, I’m sure many clever, strong and beautiful women of any age are made to feel insecure by your mannequins.”
Topshop’s initial response was to ask Laura for details so that they could privately contact her.
But, after more than 400 shares they posted a public response.
A spokesperson for the company said: “This particular style is used in small number of our stores and is based on a standard UK size 10.’’
“The overall height (187cm) is taller than the average girl and the form is stylised to have more impact in store.
“As the mannequins are solid fiberglass, their form needs to be of certain dimensions to allow clothing to be put on and removed easily; this is therefore not meant to be a representation of the average female body.
“That said, we have taken yours and other customers’ opinions and feedback on board and going forward we are not placing any further orders on this style of mannequin.
“The views of our customers are extremely valuable and we apologise if we have not lived up to the levels of service that we aim to deliver.”
Berry has since set up an online petition, which she hopes will lead “to all retailers promoting their variety of sizes across all advertising platforms from mannequins to campaigns”.