H&M Is In Hot Water Over A Customer's Open Letter

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

Right now we live in a moment where #bodypositive is constantly a trending hashtag, and where plus-size model Ashley Graham graces the cover of the highly coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. We're seeing more encouragement to accept all shapes and sizes everyday, but unfortunately there are still many battles to be won in the war against fat-shaming.

Ruth Clemens, a 25 year-old PhD student in Britain, is the latest to stir up commotion with an open letter she wrote to H&M.

Clemens who is normally a size 14, tried on a pair of size 16 jeans at the store, the largest size they carry, only to find that they were way too small for her figure.

Outraged, she snapped a picture and posted it to H & M's Facebook page to voice her opinion.

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At the time of publish, the post has received over 96,000 likes; 12,000 shares; 10,000 comments; and an innumerable amount of support.

“This is ridiculously true !! I am typically a size 12 and some of the size 16 clothing didn't even fit me. I am never shopping there again because I will not be made to feel bigger than what I am!” one user commented.

“Unbelievable !!! It comes as no shock that many people including children / teens have low self-esteem when it comes to their body. Will H&M sort this out ?? I highly doubt it, and that is the upsetting thing !!! Fantastic that you have posted this x”voiced another.

The brand apologized to Ruth and said, “We always want our customers to have an enjoyable time when shopping in store and to leave feeling confident in themselves. At H&M we make clothing for all our stores around the world, so the sizing can vary depending on the style, cut and fabric.”

What we should all take from this exchange is that we don't need to feel bad about our bodies just because a garment doesn't fit "correctly." As Clemens said herself, “If my body is too big, too tall, takes up too much space for H&M clothes, then it's them who needs to change, not me. And the same goes for everyone else out there.”