Inclusive UK fashion retailer Simply Be hits out at latest Victoria’s Secret images.
Fashion brand Simply Be is leading a back lash against the latest Victoria’s Secret advertising campaign.
The British women’s clothing retailer claims there is a stark irony in the lingerie firm’s marketing slogan, “All You See is Curves”, being plastered across images of tall, very slim models, who they say actually display very few curves.
Simply Be’s spokesperson said: “This campaign came so hard on the heels of this company’s last marketing push advocating the “Perfect Body” using super slim models and air brushing, to promote an image which is unrealistic and unattainable for most women.”
That campaign was quietly dropped after thousands signed an online petition in protest.
Instagram have added to the “curves controversy”, with their latest baffling decision to ban the hashtag “curvy”. A spokesperson for Instagram said the decision was made because it was being used to share images and videos that violated the company's community guidelines around nudity. The social network has blocked #curvy alongside a host of other search terms, including thighs and butt.
As one angry user pointed out: “You can hashtag skinny on Instagram but they banned #curvy?? The double standard is unreal.”
Campaigners are backlashing against Instagram’s recent decision to ban #Curve and are now using #Curvee instead.
In response, Simply Be are launching their own #Curvee social media campaign to, “show what most women’s curves really look like”.
Simply Be’s spokesperson said: “The difference is we are using models that reflect the shapes of real women, especially considering the average dress size in the UK is a 16.
Simply Be has launched ‘ All You See Is #Curvee’, a social media campaign which is asking fans to post pictures of their curves using the hashtag #Curvee.
Simply Be’s spokesperson added: “We have a responsibility as a retailer to promote positive body image to our customers. That is something we take very seriously and to us that means being representative of women in the UK today.”
Instagram’s blocking of #Curves comes after the same social network were accused of discrimination and censorship after banning the uploading of pictures of women’s nipples, prompting a backlash from the Free the Nipple Campaign, which was supported by celebrities including Madonna, Miley Cyrus and Scout Willis.
Instagram’s rules state that users may not post “violent, nude, partially nude, pornographic or sexually suggestive” photos.
ENDS
For further information, please contact: Laura Costin: 07875 559 844 or [email protected]
Notes to editors
N Brown Group is a leading multi-channel retailer headquartered in Manchester employing over 3.200 people. The company's strategy has been to focus each of the brands in its portfolio towards niche markets, which are poorly served on the high street, such as the plus size and more mature customer segments. The Group has total sales of over £830m as of May 2014 with online sales representing over 58% of total revenue. As part of its multi-channel strategy, N Brown Group operates ten Simply Be stores across the UK of which nine are dual facia with Jacamo. Current brands include Simply Be, Jacamo, Fashion World, JD Williams, Marisota, House of Bath, Figleaves, Gray & Osbourn and High and Mighty. The Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BWNG) and is a constituent of the FTSE250.
