A TRADE group representing hundreds of American designers has called on the fashion industry to showcase women of greater size diversity, such as plus-size models Ashley Graham and Candice Huffine.

Graham, of Nebraska, in 2016 became the first plus-size model to make the cover of Sports Illustrated. She also appeared on the cover of Vogue, helping break down barriers in the notoriously snooty fashion world.

“We are beginning to see signs of fashion moving in the right direction,” Marc Karimzadeh and Nicky Campbell said on the website of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), which represents more than 500 clothing, jewellery and accessory designers.

“Designers, such as Michael Kors and Christian Siriano, are casting models who defy tradition,” they said in reference to the fashion world’s long-standing preference for slimness.

“Body positivity is important in fashion, and we want to see more designers and companies embrace this in 2019,” said the CFDA communication officials.

A movement to recognise alternate body types started in 2017 at New York Fashion Week, with runway shows by Prabal Gurung, Christian Siriano and Michael Kors.

Last September, CFDA and plus-size brand Dia&Co launched the #TeeUpChange campaign to encourage greater diversity in size among young creators.

It also collaborated last year with Universal Standard, a brand that offers to exchange a piece of clothing in the year following its purchase if the customer’s size changes.

“In the past year, we’ve put more focus on size inclusivity” through the Dia&Co and Universal Standard tie-ups, “and it continues to be a focus going forward”, Karimzadeh told AFP. – AFP, January 5, 2019.