91-224A
Waakea Place
Kapolei,
Hawaii, 96707
December
12, 2013
Brandy
Melville
280
Beachwalk, Suite 104
Honolulu,
Hawaii 96815
To
the Brandy Melville Management:
Because
of your laid back, chic style, Brandy Melville has made a major impact on
teenage fashion trends worldwide, and is still continuing to do so. I have been
a loyal customer since you've opened your Hawaii location a few years back, and
I think that it's safe to say that Brandy Melville is my favorite clothing
store. However a past experience has led me to see your store in a completely
different way.
During
your Black Friday sale, wristbands were passed out to avoid troubles that
occurred in the last year. When I received mine, the man who had been putting
the wristband on me said, "...most girls who shop here are very
slim." At first, it hadn't really bothered me, until I quickly looked over
to the other girls in line, and realized that the man was right. Like I said
before, Brandy Melville is a very popular trend, and like most trends, it
shapes the way we live. And because it is so popular, naturally, teenagers want
to be a part of the hype.
Unfortunately,
due to the "One Size Fits Most" plaques that surround your store, not
everyone can enjoy the items available. Although it may be convenient for
customers to not have to look for a specific size, not to mention that
producing only one size of clothing may save your company money, understand
that this is a form of discrimination, and it can offend people. The plaque
itself basically states that not everyone can fit the one size (aside from some
of the denim products) that you sell, and will create a standard for girls to
fit that one size, which may eventually lead to a health threatening issue.
I
also noticed that most, if not all, of your advertisements, feature thin girls
with flat stomachs and skeletal limbs. These characteristics are what are
considered to be the "perfect" body to most of our society today. And
what's better than to have these "perfect" girls to advertise your
products, to create an image that most teens idolize? However, with this image,
comes a plethora of issues, one of them being body dysmorphia. The average
American woman is considered to be a size 14, and considering the fact that
your store isn't the only one that advertises these rail thin girls wearing
your products, teens who merely want to be a part of the crowd are pressured
into having an eating disorder.
Although
your business isn't the only one who has a target audience, Brandy Melville is
a big name, and being able to change your sizing system will hopefully inspire
other brands to change theirs as well. For example, on your website, the sizing
chart provides an image of an extremely thin girl, once again, using the
perfect body image. But changing these standards will create a positive effect
on our society by creating a new image of a perfect body.
I
hope you don't take this offensively, as I am just trying to suggest a concept
that will not only benefit your business, but also the health of millions of
people who are being molded by the needs of society.
Thank
you for your consideration.
Hannah
Maestro
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