Fashion has always been uniform when it comes to the body types appearing on catwalks, billboards and splashed across fashion magazines. But there is a growing resentment of the tired idea perpetuated by the industry that only one size is the right size, and rising models such as Iskra Lawrence are encouraging the appetite for change.
As an Australian size 14 to 16, Robyn Lawley exists in a space somewhere between sample size and plus size by the fashion industry's categorisation. Lawley says this became problematic when she was cast for major beauty campaigns, only to be dropped as soon as agents became aware of her frame.
Lawley told The Cut: “My agency, when I signed with them, sent me out to all the beauty clients. My Italian agency did the same thing. I got booked from everyone. Then, as soon as they found out my size, they all dropped off. Even the Italian agency was like, ‘I don’t think they understand you're plus-size.’
“So, you looked at a photo, you booked a girl, found out she was plus-size, and then you unbooked her? That’s messed up. I can’t control my bone structure. I can’t get skinnier than my bones. I can’t. You can change the sample. I’m a designer — you don’t have to make the sample that size. You can easily change it, with your 1,000 seamstresses right there.
Lawley said her agent then received an email with the instruction: “Don’t ever send us a plus-size girl again.”
Lawley has since signed a two-year beauty contract with Pantene.
