Old Navy found itself in a world of drama earlier this month over its plus-sized women’s denim options. Shopper Renee Posey launched a Change.org petition calling for the retailer to reevaluate the way it prices and markets its women’s plus-sized denim. Not only are larger sizes significantly more expensive for women, but they’re also relegated to a separate department on Old Navy’s website, while the men’s plus-sized options are not only priced like straight-size pieces, but they’re also not put into separate categories. Posey took the retailer’s sexist and sizeist practices to task, imploring the brand to not up-charge larger women.
Gap came forward to say that the reason why its women’s plus-sized clothes are so much more expensive is because it uses special materials for those pieces. As the retailer explained in a statement, “For women, styles are not just larger sizes of other women’s items, they are created by a team of designers who are experts in creating the most flattering and on-trend plus styles, which includes curve-enhancing and curve-flattering elements such as four-way stretch materials and contoured waistbands, which most men’s garments do not include.”
Now, Old Navy plans to do more than just offer a lame excuse as to why larger women are being charged so much for these clothes. But don’t think it’s going to be changing those price points. According to Bloomberg, Old Navy will allow plus-sized customers to make returns in-store, a feature not previously available as the brand sells plus sizes exclusively online. Old Navy is also forming a panel that will meet four times a year to help improve the retailer’s larger options.
Perhaps it can start by making plus-sized clothing actually available in Old Navy stores and enact fairer pricing practices for women’s clothing.
[via Bloomberg]
