To wonder why clothes aren't more expensive in bigger sizes

[mrsfoof]

If you buy children's clothes, you'll have probably noticed that you have to pay a good few quid more for a T-shirt in age 12 than you would for the exact same T-shirt in age 5. Fair enough, the bigger size uses a lot more fabric.

Why then, is a size 24 ladies' T-shirt the same price as the same T-shirt in a size 6, despite it using a lot more - maybe even twice as much - fabric?

Would people be more motivated to stay a healthy weight if they had to pay more for bigger clothes? Why don't we charge more for bigger clothes? Are the prices based on the average amount of fabric used - so skinny people pay more and very large people pay less than they should do based on the resources used to make their clothes?

FWIW I'm marginally overweight and wouldn't have a problem paying more for my size 14 than a 6. I think it would motivate me to lose some weight if the size 10 was cheaper though!

This.

Wow ‘do something about it’ it’s really that easy?

I can remember a time when that was the situation in some shops. Very glad those days are gone.
It would be almost discriminatory and very much body-shaming. And what about clothes for talker people? Or underwear for women with big boobs, for example? There's nothing they can do to make themselves shorter/smaller less busty. Why should they be penalised?

There are many reasons people are fat, absolutely none are your business.

I'm 5ft1, size 22. Mainly down to health reasons rather than being lazy/unhealthy etc.

I often find that short/petite clothing cost more than their 'regularly equivalent.
Well maybe not like for like, but there's a much smaller range available in the budget shops I can afford to use.
Likewise size 22 clothes. Primark go up to a size 22, but their size 22 is often smaller than a 22 from anywhere else so doesn't always fit.

If shops that do cater for my size started charging more I wouldn't be motivated to lose weight any more than I am now.
But I would be unable to afford them, making me less likely to actually go out and exercise and lose weight. So I'd probably get fatter and more unhealthy.

As for why they charge more for bigger children's sizes? Who knows.

Rubbish.
Anyone can discuss any subject they wish and ask reasonable questions about it.

By your logic most things aren’t most oriole’s business are they, but that’s not how the world works is it.

She can ask and people can refuse to answer, but it’s not for you to control the narrative here.

You also sound incredibly defensive, which never bodes well for a balanced conversation.

Right but someone’s body size is never someone else’s business. You can ask, but you will likely be told to butt out. I’m not defensive, I’m a size 12-14 so firmly in the mid size camp having no biases towards smaller or larger clothes. I just think there’s no need for people to police others bodies.

isn't it obvious

because children grow....

and adults don't. when 95% of the costs are the same regardless of size - what is the point of fat shaming

You sound like my (skinny) Dm OP. The cat's arse mouths she pulls at the M&S cashmere over how a "tent that would fit both of us in easily costs the same" as her meagre scrap of 8-10".

I agree but brands are paranoid about offending people.

Is this a joke?

Yes well people can speak for themselves can’t they.

I work with very seriously obese people, who could rightly feel persecute by this, but they wouldn’t respond as viscerally as you have

Nobody’s health is anybody’s business of course not, but if aspects of this become prevalent In various day to day dealings (clothing size and costs, airplane seat sizes etc) people can and will reasonably ask.

You do sound defensive but you don’t speak for all, and certainly not half the patients I have ever seen. A neutral fact giving exchange is so much bette than your very un-British ‘butt out’

Oh get over yourself OP, don't be a prick. Despite what the Daily Heil says you can't shame people into losing weight and you shouldn't go out of your way to hurt people which is what you're proposing. I know you think you are morally superior because you can fit into a size 8 but you're not.

Because then (as a size 24 myself), we would be forced to walk around naked and inflict our fat moreso on to judgemental people if we couldn't afford clothing.
Just so you are aware, the majority of retailers stock up to size 18 "mainstream". Supermarkets can stock up to size 24, but the sizing is hit and miss as are other places like BooHoo etc.
Stores that do clothing "to size" for plus ranges such as Yours, Evans and Simply Be aren't what I would call "cheap", but that is my opinion and what someone finds cheap could be expensive and vice versa.
I'm just going to toddle off now and wrap a bedsheet around myself like a toga if that's OK and less offensive?.....

And for the record, fat-shaming is bullshit and very damaging.

Nobody should ever do it to anyone. Ever.

@User487216 Unfortunately with my height and bone structure I am never likely to be a size 10 in OPs motivational world being tall doesn’t stop you from being midsize and bones don’t define dress size.

What’s visceral about saying “it’s not your business”? Also un-British? What’s anyone’s nationality got to do with this discussion? What a strange response.

Oh good! A “fat bastards deserve it” thread for a bank holiday. Slow clap OP

Part of the reason is VAT. Some children's clothing is exempt, there's a set of measurements that is a watershed.

As others have said, the cost of material is a minor part.

‘Butt out’ in Canadian discourse is intended to mean ‘this stops now’

Well it clearly doesn’t, and it’s an incredibly aggressive, ill-reasoned, visceral response.

The nationally i neither here nor there - I just recognise it from foreign discourse.

It’s maybe similar to that brilliant phrase ‘do one’ which I don’t think many people use.

Nobody says ‘butt out’ calmly. Not IME

Telling someone to butt out isn’t aggressive - “fuck off” might be, but butt out is just saying stop involving yourself in something that doesn’t concern you.

You're failing to see the simple supply and demand issue. A set number of people will always need duvet covers or tents, so if they're selling single/1-man ones (2 per 2 people) they're going to be able to sell more than if 2 people are sharing a double/2-man (1 per 2 people), so they need to make the smaller one cheaper to match selling more of them (else everyone will buy the bigger one and be miffed about it). It's not to cover material used, that would be pennies difference, it's for the difference in profit!

Whereas with clothes, two size 8 women are never going to buy size 22 clothing and go round wearing it together! So there's no advantage in charging more for bigger sizes unless your business model is to attract thinner women with cheaper clothing as some retailers do. Most though need large women's money as much as smaller women's so will have the same price regardless of size.

I'm size 14, my BMI is 21.5 so I am not overweight, even when it was under 20 I was still a size12-14, I'm 5'11

I understand supply and demand. You have just confirms that single, and or smaller people are disproportionately charged more simply due to there being fewer of them.

I’m not even saying that bigger clothes should cost more, but I don’t think it’s an unreasonable question.