London Fashion Week: Plus-size models protest outside calling for body inclusivity
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Body positivity activists have staged a protest at London Fashion Week urging for more curves on the catwalk.
On Friday morning, the group of plus-size models and social media influencers gathered outside the British Fashion Council’s central LFW space at 180 Strand.
They held placards bearing phrases such as: “Fashion should empower us”, and “Our beauty is immeasurable”.
The protest was led by plus-size model Hayley Hasselhoff, 26, and organised by retailer Simply Be, which sells women's fashion in sizes 12 to 32.
Those in attendance included British model Felicity Hayward, who is a UK size 20 and activist Michelle Elman, who runs the body positivity Instagram account, "Scarred not Scared", and is also a UK size 20.
The protest comes after research comissioned by Simply Be found that 89 per cent of women didn't feel their body size was represented on the runways.
Ed Watson, global communications director at N Brown Group plc, which owns Simply Be, said: “We love London Fashion Week and anything that raises the profile of British fashion. However, it would be great to seemore diverse representation of body shape on the runways.
“This isn’t about thin shaming – we just think it’s time we saw more diversity in terms of size in advertising campaigns and on runways, because women are so much more than their measurements."
Simply Be arranged a similar protest this time last year, which saw those in attendance wear lingerie for the occasion.
At the time, Hasselhoff, whose father is Baywatch star David Hasselhoff, spoke about the importance of campaigning for body positivity in fashion.
“We want to give women everywhere the confidence to be who they are," she said.
"This is only achieved by showing a wide variety of models irrespective of size. By tearing up the ‘one size’ fits fashion rule book we hope to encourage any woman, whatever her size, to feel fabulous in their skin.”
Keep up to date with The Independent's London Fashion Week coverage here.
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