London Fashion Week – Plus Size Controversy

In a bold move, upcoming Canadian fashion designer Mark Fast decided to use three models from agency, 12+ UK in his London runway show last week. Not only is this groundbreaking for the fashion industry but it certainly also suggests that marketing for fashion lines might begin including a variety of body types.

There were reports over the weekend in several British papers; Daily Mail, Guardian, and Telegraph that the stylist and casting director for the fashion show had refused to work with Fast because of his choice to use size 12 and 14 models. They quit three days before the Saturday show, and freelancers Daniela Agnelli and Natalie Hubbarb stepped in to help make the show a success.

Today I read that the stylist is denying these reports as being her reason for abandoning the show. Erika Kurihara, who also works for the fashion magazine i-D, told the Guardian, “My ideal woman is [the size ten model] Lara Stone or Beyonce – I celebrate strong, healthy women.”

Fast, who designs figure hugging knitwear decided to use fuller figure models. Amanda May, Fast’s creative director, yesterday blamed the walkout on ‘creative differences’ over the use of larger models. ‘There was a team change and we are glad we stuck to our vision,’ she said.

‘The decision to use fuller girls is something we have been talking about. There’s an idea that only thin and slender women are able to wear Mark’s dresses and he wanted to combat that. We wanted women to know they didn’t have to be a size zero to wear a Mark Fast dress – curvier women can look even better in them.’

May’s Twitter page states that the stylist was replaced because she was “let go.”

As reported on Sky News, Fast created a bespoke garment for model Hayley Morley that she wore in a fashion show called All Walks Beyond The Catwalk, which featured models size eight to 16 and aged 18 to 65. The event was a fundraiser for B-EAT, a UK organization that raises awareness about eating disorders.