Why doesn’t clothing fit me? Understanding the sizing struggle

Have you ever found yourself wondering, “Why doesn’t clothing fit me?” or felt like you needed to change yourself just to fit into what's available in stores or online? If so, you're not alone and here’s the truth, clothing isn’t designed for you.

The majority of fashion is created for a standard body shape, known as the "Rectangle" or "Column" shape (which represents only 46% of women). Unfortunately, this leaves Pear, Hourglass, Inverted Triangle, and Apple body shapes, which individually make up a much smaller portion of the population but collectively represent 54% of women, without the proper fits or styles to choose from. 

For many, this standard sizing system works, which is why the fashion industry is worth $1.7 Trillion USD. But for others, it has created a significant issue, meaning clothing is often unavailable or unsuitable for the diverse range of body types that exist.

Above: How the industry sees body shapes vs reality.

The problem with standard sizing and why Cherry Bobbins is changing the game

Thankfully, the rise of social media and the body positivity movement over the last decade has sparked a shift towards body acceptance and diversity. However, despite these positive changes, the fashion industry is still stuck in the past, with an obvious lack of size inclusivity that continues to be a glaring issue.

Many brands continue to create clothing based on a standard size without questioning whether there’s room for improvement or considering the diversity of body types. Some brands have started offering sizes 16 and above, but unfortunately, they often don’t take the time to properly develop styles that actually fit or flatter curves. This is why, for many people with curves, clothes may not zip up, fit well or feel comfortable.

At Cherry Bobbins, we recognise that we can’t design clothing to fit every single body, but we’re committed to making the changes in the fashion industry that we’ve always wanted to see. We listen closely to our customers’ feedback, continuously improving our designs and shapes to create tailored styles that celebrate and fit curves beautifully.