The fashion world still has yards to keep up when it comes to being more inclusive, but it’s heartening to know that brands like Nike are rising to meet the demand on a more functional level.
In a bid to recognise that one standard figure doesn’t equate to pursuing fitness, Nike’s new range will cater to plus-sized women. The update of sizes will span XL to 3XL, intending to perfectly fit a variety of body shapes.
The Swoosh isn’t just scaling up the sizes of their current women’s offerings and calling them plus-sized — it’s a whole new apparel collection specifically tailored to flatter plus-sized bodies, and differing weight distributions. The line is now available on its website.
“Nike recognises that women are stronger, bolder and more outspoken than ever. In today’s world, sport is no longer something that she does, it’s who she is. The days where we have to add ‘female’ before ‘athlete’ are over. She is an athlete, period. And having helped fuel this cultural shift, we celebrate these athletes’ diversity, from ethnicity to body shape,” said Nike vice president Helen Boucher.
Accompanying the plus-sized collection is the announcement of the Nike Pro Hijab. This inclusive move towards representing Muslim female athletes was a year in the making, seeing Nike collaborate with a number of Muslim athletes for the perfect design.
Crafted with Middle Eastern temperatures in mind, the high-performance hijab is highly breathable, lightweight, and ultra-stretchy for a snug fit. Fluff threads comprise the lining to prevent chafing or irritation during extensive sports. The Pro Hijab will be made available in three colours: Black, obsidian and vast grey. Release dates are tentatively set for early 2018.