I’m a size 12 model and didn’t fit Zara’s ‘medium’ jeans – I set up my own fashion brand and DELETED clothing sizes that make women feel bad
A model influenced by the ‘hard’ sizes of the high street has revealed how he created her own fashion label that defines women of different sizes as ‘strong’ or ‘unlimited’.
Ashly Rae, 36, from Aberdeen, founded her Elswear brand in April after her size change lockdown and she couldn’t fit into Zara’s medium or large jeans, despite being a size 42.
Have worked with Victoria Beckham and Harrods and previously participated in THE Fashion Week, Ashly said, “I’m naturally slim and when modeling I felt the pressure to be really short.”
Ashly Rae, 36, from Aberdeen, criticized ‘hard’ sizing in well-known brands and founded her own label
“I was happy with my body, so I found this confusing, but it seemed like everyone was concerned about their size, so I watched what I ate.
“It’s uncomfortable when others, like agents or casting directors, judge your body.”
During the lockdown, Ashly gained weight and noticed her clothes getting tighter.
She looked forward to buying new clothes for her new figure when high street shops reopened and was frustrated when she realized how women feel about their bodies is determined by high street sizing.
Ashly described her experience at Zara as follows: “I bought several pairs of jeans in different sizes, assuming one would fit. Size medium and large. They were all too small.
Ashly, pictured in a big Zara dress, said her body ‘isn’t big, it’s beautiful’
She founded her own fashion brand Elswear that uses the terms ‘strong’ and ‘limitless’ to define sizes
Rather than defining shoppers by traditional clothing sizes, the brand describes their figures as “magnetic” or “boundless.”
“How can this brand be okay with labeling women’s bodies in such a harsh way?
“I thought, ‘my body isn’t big, it’s beautiful – no matter the size.’
“The fashion industry has spent too long controlling how women feel about their bodies and that’s wrong. I want to change that.’
Ashly decided to start her own fashion brand Elswear in April last year, which doesn’t define women as size 10 or 12, but describes their size as “magnetic” or “limitless.”
“I thought if women were shopping and gained weight, they would feel much better if they went from a strong size to a nice size instead of a small to a large.
The entrepreneur’s message to women is: ‘Your body is beautiful. Your mental health is more important than your clothing size.’ (Pictured speaking at Edinburgh University on entrepreneurship)
“I want women to be comfortable in their clothes and feel good about shopping, whether they’re gaining weight or losing weight.
Ashly gave advice to women who follow common sizing, saying, “It’s better to have clothes that fit you and you’re comfortable in, so ignore sizing and choose what feels right.”
“Clothes are meant to fit your body, not the other way around.
‘As long as you’re healthy and happy, it doesn’t matter how tall you are.
“Your body is beautiful. Your mental health is more important than your clothing size.’
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