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| New Look reviews clothing prices amid 'fat tax' row | New Look reviews clothing prices amid 'fat tax' row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Fashion chain New Look is reviewing its prices after an outcry that some larger-sized clothes were more expensive than those in smaller sizes. | Fashion chain New Look is reviewing its prices after an outcry that some larger-sized clothes were more expensive than those in smaller sizes. |
| The High Street retailer said it was hoping to "ensure pricing differences like these" did not happen in future. | The High Street retailer said it was hoping to "ensure pricing differences like these" did not happen in future. |
| It comes after a shopper saw trousers in its Curves range cost 15% more than a pair in the main collection. | It comes after a shopper saw trousers in its Curves range cost 15% more than a pair in the main collection. |
| The issue has divided opinion over whether using more material should mean higher prices. | The issue has divided opinion over whether using more material should mean higher prices. |
| Some have said it is reasonable to charge more for a garment that uses more fabric. Others see it as a "fat tax". | Some have said it is reasonable to charge more for a garment that uses more fabric. Others see it as a "fat tax". |
| Plus-size model Nyome Nicholas-Williams told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme she felt the application of higher prices was discriminatory. | |
| "Some people don't choose to be the size they are - or height. If you have to pay extra money [for clothes] subliminally it feels like you are being told you have to lose weight," she said. | |
| However, Anna Scholz, a plus-size fashion designer, told the programme there was a limit to the size range that could be produced for the same price as it can take twice the fabric to make the same shirt for a larger size as a small one. | |
| "As a company we sell from size 16 to 28 - if I had smaller sizes as well I would have to price them differently." | |
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| Maria Wassell, a retail supervisor from Kent, spotted the discrepancy at her local New Look branch in Ashford in Kent. | |
| She told the Sun newspaper: "It's like I'm being discriminated against for being plus-size when I'm only slightly bigger than average. | She told the Sun newspaper: "It's like I'm being discriminated against for being plus-size when I'm only slightly bigger than average. |
| "The average size for a British woman is now a size 16. Plus-size purchases are on the increase. If you look at the statistics, there's more money being spent on plus-size clothing now then there was even three years ago." | "The average size for a British woman is now a size 16. Plus-size purchases are on the increase. If you look at the statistics, there's more money being spent on plus-size clothing now then there was even three years ago." |
| Ms Wassell said she used to work for a plus-size brand, and the argument that clothes for bigger sizes needed to be priced more highly was "basically rubbish". | Ms Wassell said she used to work for a plus-size brand, and the argument that clothes for bigger sizes needed to be priced more highly was "basically rubbish". |
| Emily Sutherland, features writer at fashion trade journal Drapers, also had little time for that explanation. | |
| "Retailers may argue a larger size requires more fabric and is therefore more expensive to produce... or that there are subtle differences between straight and plus-size products that impact on price, but customers point out tall and maternity ranges, which also use more fabric, are rarely priced higher - and that smaller petite products are unlikely to be cheaper." | |
| She said harmonising prices between the ranges was becoming increasingly common. | |
| New Look said in a statement: "We are in the process of reviewing the pricing structure of our Plus Size collection in a way which works best for our customers and our business. | New Look said in a statement: "We are in the process of reviewing the pricing structure of our Plus Size collection in a way which works best for our customers and our business. |
| "We are proud of the ranges we offer to our Plus Size customers and value all customers, no matter what their body shape or size." | "We are proud of the ranges we offer to our Plus Size customers and value all customers, no matter what their body shape or size." |
| Earlier this year, New Look announced it would close 60 UK stores and cut 1,000 jobs as part of a financial restructuring. | Earlier this year, New Look announced it would close 60 UK stores and cut 1,000 jobs as part of a financial restructuring. |