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Call for larger fashion mannequins Call for larger fashion mannequins
(about 1 hour later)
An MSP whose daughter died from anorexia has called on retailers to use larger sized fashion mannequins to help tackle eating disorders. An MSP whose daughter died from anorexia has called on retailers to use larger-sized fashion mannequins.
Debenhams announced last week it would introduce a size 16 dummy to reflect the size of many of its customers. Shop mannequins are usually a size eight or 10 but last week Debenhams announced it would introduce a size 16 dummy to reflect the size of many of its customers.
SNP MSP Dennis Robertson is using his Member's Debate to urge other fashion outlets to do the same. SNP MSP Dennis Robertson used his member's debate to urge others to do the same.
He has campaigned on the issue since his 18-year-old daughter Caroline died in 2011. He has campaigned on the issue since his 18-year-old daughter Caroline died.
Shop mannequins are usually a size eight or 10. Mr Robertson said thin mannequins reinforced an unrealistic ideal of body shape and size.
Speaking ahead of the Eating Disorders and the Fashion Industry debate, Mr Robertson said thin mannequins reinforced an unrealistic ideal of body shape and size. During the debate, the member for Aberdeenshire West added: "People who have eating disorders, it's not caused by the mannequins, it's not caused by seeing the fashion within the magazines but it exacerbates a condition for people who are predisposed or who have an eating disorder and it hinders, it puts barriers, obstacles, up for those people who are going through the pathway of recovery.
The member for Aberdeenshire West added: "Debenhams, through their flagship store in London, are leading the way in the UK on different size mannequins and their summer catalogue also made a display of the diversity in our society. "I urge the retail industry to get real and show us the images which reflect people and reflect the shapes and sizes of the community we live in."
"It is important to celebrate that diversity because young people can be influenced by what they see in shop windows, magazines or adverts and I hope that many more fashion retailers can follow in their footsteps.
"I do not feel the sole responsibility lies with medical professionals to tackle the issue of eating disorders, and the media and fashion industry must show some action to ensure that young people especially have positive images of the diverse body shapes and sizes in our society."
Equality minister Jo Swinson said last week that the decision by Debenhams to introduce a plus-size mannequin went some way towards tackling the "important" issue of body-confidence that affects some women.Equality minister Jo Swinson said last week that the decision by Debenhams to introduce a plus-size mannequin went some way towards tackling the "important" issue of body-confidence that affects some women.