GAP padded bikinis

[Ejayb]

I note that GAP are "thinking about joining the campaign"...I suspect that won't happen for a while. I was in GAP Kids on Thursday looking at swimwear for my 9 year old. I was mortified to find that despite all the outrage against Primark they are stocking bikinis for 10-yrs + which are padded. This would be my DDs size. What message does this send out to our DDs who are already under so much pressure to be older than they are. She is just a child why on earth do they think a padded bikini is appropriate for her age or even for girls of 12, 13, 14?

Oh lordy I am so going to get flamed for this. But.....when I was just beginning to start growing boobs I begged my mother for a swimsuit or bikini (didn't care which) that had even just a small layer of padding in it to stop me looking so exposed - how self conscious is a 10 year old with budding boobs? Especially that very early "pointy but looking a bit fat" stage. It's bad enough without wearing something that revealing just by virtue of being one thin bit of material.
Mum ended up sewing a thin layer of fabric into my swimming costume so I was flattened a bit and I was eternally grateful.

Am NOT saying I think mini hooker-kinis are right but perhaps this was how the idea started.

Mind you I haven't even seen them so might be well off the mark anyway. As you were.