The Fashion Industry's Unflattering Reflection
This season's Fall/Winter 2026 fashion shows have been a stark reminder of the industry's failure to prioritize size inclusivity. Behind the scenes, casting directors like Hollie Schliftman, Emma Matell, and Chloe Rosolek bear witness to the systemic issues plaguing the industry. Schliftman, who cast Christian Siriano's show this season, notes that size inclusivity is often treated as a fleeting trend rather than a permanent shift in representation. The reality is that most women don't fit the narrow mold of size 0 or 2, but rather sizes 8, 10, or 12.
The numbers tell a damning story: out of 7,817 looks presented across 182 shows and presentations, a staggering 97.6% were straight-size, while mid-size and plus-size models made up a mere 2.1% and 0.3% respectively. The consequences of this lack of inclusivity are far-reaching, with Rosolek lamenting the erasure of women's bodies taking place on the runway. As Matell points out, the fashion industry's influence has grown exponentially, making its lack of diversity all the more jarring.
The industry's failure to prioritize size inclusivity is a missed opportunity to reflect the world we live in. By ignoring the diversity of women's bodies, fashion shows and campaigns risk perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards and excluding a significant portion of the population.
The regression in size inclusivity on the runway is a stark reminder of the industry's failure to reflect the diversity of Nigerian women, who are often celebrated for their curves and beauty in Afrobeats and Nollywood. The erasure of women's bodies on the runway is a global issue, but it's also a missed opportunity for the fashion industry to showcase the beauty and diversity of African women.
