Popular clothing brand accused of 'fatphobia' following 4XL decision

Owners of a much-loved British clothing brand have come under fire from customers this week for discontinuing the size 4XL.

Since 2017, sustainable fashion brand Lucy & Yak has raked in shoppers across Brighton, Bristol, Norwich, Nottingham, Cambridge, Manchester, Cardiff, Exeter, and Castleford, promoting its line of vibrant prints, abstract textures, and inclusive sizes.

The brand pledges 'three C's' - creativity, with 'colourful prints that give you the confidence to be whoever you want to be', community, with 'kind, joyful Yakkers that share our values', and comfort, 'with comfy clothes for ALL bodies, with lots of pockets, giving you Freedom to live your best life' - as per it's official website.

However, a recent decision by the brand has set tongues wagging this week, after it emerged that the company had decided to stop stocking its largest size, 4XL.

In an update post on their website, Lucy & Yak state that they rarely produce the sizes as they 'simply aren’t selling through at the same rate as others', adding: "This means too often we’re left with excess stock at the end of the season, which usually ends up in our (Im)perfect Sales.

"While we love giving pieces a second chance, our ultimate goal is to keep clothing on people and out of landfill."

They say that their goals for adjusting the size range are to 'reduce fabric waste, use materials more effectively across our collections', and 'avoid overproduction and unnecessary surplus'.

While size 4XL will no longer be produced, XXS (size 4) will be exclusively available in their petite range. The website further says that 'sizing is complex' and they 'know these conversations are important'.

"Please know that every decision we make is rooted in care - for our community, our planet, and the people who make our clothes," they said.

However, the move hasn't gone down too well with several former customers, including a popular UK-based social media influencer known as @fatpheebes.

Taking to Instagram over the weekend, the self-professed 'fat content creator' claimed she has 'worn Lucy & Yak in many' of her own posts, but now plans to have a 'backwards step'.

"This is not inclusion," she wrote. "Inclusivity isn't temporary. It's a sustainable practice that every company should be championing.

"Instead, we are seeing Lucy & Yak reinforce the narrative that larger bodies should be something you aim to get rid of, rather than include."

@fatpheebs continued: "Fat people have existed, and we always will. It isn't something you can change about every single fat person on this planet.

"We are customers too. We want to wear fun clothes too. We deserve to be included too!"

She went on to take aim at the brand's owners once again, reminding them they 'need to include fat folk' in their work to be inclusive.

"It comes across terribly because it is terrible. It sets a precedent. It sends a clear message, and that message is clear that fat people aren't useful to your business anymore," she said.

Addressing the fact that the brand's smallest size will be included in its petite range, the influencer continued: "I think there are thin people who can address that better than I could, but it is important to highlight that this is happening at both ends of the scales."

@fatpheebs added: "Instead of being inclusive in sizing for everyone, from the smallest to the biggest, Lucy & Yak have decided to lose customers based on excluding fat folk. How lovely!"

Some fellow Instagram users went on to agree with the sentiment behind the online appeal, with one adding of the brand: "This is really sad :( I thought they would have been one of the good ones."

Another pointed out: "Even a lot of smaller brands carry 4X/5X even if they aren’t the top selling sizes to make sure they’re inclusive and they find a way to handle that…"

"This is extremely disappointing," a third added. "They were very, very slow to stock plus sizes in the first place but I thought things had changed."

Tyla has contacted Lucy & Yak representatives for comment.