Body diversity returns to London fashion week as wider industry heads ultra-thin

Body diversity returned to London fashion week even as the wider industry shifts back toward ultra-thin silhouettes. Emerging designers including Karoline Vitto, Phoebe English and Sinead Gorey presented a broad range of body shapes over four days. Sizes ranged from UK 10-16 (mid-size) to plus-size from UK 18 up, while sample or straight sizes are UK 4-8.

At her first catwalk show in two years Karoline Vitto asked, “Where did all the curve models go?” She said she staged a show to push back against a discourse that “screams thin is back.” Vitto’s label, which runs from UK8 to UK22, cast models so viewers could see how the pieces sit on different bodies.

Several members of the size-diverse cast of 23 covered their own costs to take part; high-profile faces included Jocelyn Corona and Nyakier Buong. Other labels used street casting to find varied faces while cutting agency fees.

United Kingdom, London

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