- Merchants on the online marketplace Wish are using thin models to advertise plus-size tights.
- The listings feature photos of slim models fitting their whole bodies into a pair of the tights.
- People are furious at this depiction of plus-size fashion.
The fashion and beauty industry has made big strides when it comes to becoming more inclusive and body-positive, but there have certainly been a few setbacks along the way.
The latest misfire comes from the popular online marketplace Wish. The discount website, which connects its users to a variety of merchants, currently has photos of thin models fitting their entire bodies into what are advertised as plus-size tights.
Several merchants are currently using the photos, which depict the slim models stretching the fabric with their arms spread far apart.
The photos have quickly gone viral, and people are not pleased with this depiction of plus-size fashion.
Am plus size. am pissed too. This is just insulting.
— ReRe Silva92 (@ReRe_Silva92) December 9, 2017
...did someone seriously think this was a good idea?
— DñL (@Dnelaile) December 10, 2017
https://t.co/LH9PWGoiul might as well not make the tights, because I doubt plus-sized people would buy from them after this...
— Jemme 🇱🇨🇬🇧🇪🇺 (@Jem758) December 10, 2017
This is so wrong on so many levels. How demeaning can you be? Smh
— HannahBower2 (@hanzbananzz) December 10, 2017
It's very stupid. They had to know there would be backlash. How could anyone think that was a good idea?
— Taylor Wood (@TaylorWood717) December 10, 2017
According to some Twitter users, the photos originated from an advertisement for a pair of "indestructible" tights, meaning the original intent may have been to show the durability rather than the size.
i just saw the same pic advertising a pair of “indestructible” stockings—they’re supposed to be resistant to tears, holes, and stretching out. i don’t think this has much to do with plus size models at all. pic.twitter.com/PK6btTQRcb
— Just Molly (@just_mollymo) December 10, 2017
Except they're not "plus-size tights."
— ❤️MarkusUSA❤️ (@MarkusUSA) December 11, 2017
Oops. pic.twitter.com/5Djo7tTD0w
Regardless of the original intent, people are still questioning why the merchants are currently using the photos in the context.
doesn't matter what the image was originally used for. matters how they're using it to advertise now. it's still distasteful, even if they copped the photos from another product. they still linked the photo with a plus sized advertisement/product, so it's still not cool.
— Cassmas Tree 🎄 (@CassieValor) December 11, 2017
This unfortunately is not the first time this has happened, as a seller on Amazon used similar photos in a listing earlier this year.
INSIDER has reached out to Wish for comment.
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