“A bit of a shame that you don’t sell plus sizes!”

“Nice and inclusive, not…”
“You don’t have any plus sizes at all! How stupid!”
“I’m unfollowing you.”

We receive these kinds of reactions regularly in our mailbox or under a social media post. And let me be clear right away: we have absolutely nothing against plus sizes. On the contrary, we consciously try to purchase from brands with different fits – so that we have both small and larger sizes in stock.

We do our best to use honest photos. With us, you can see how a fabric drapes, where something wrinkles, or what a color is truly like – without Photoshop. And because you indicated that the standard size 34 mannequins weren't representative, we replaced half of them with size 44 mannequins.

But then comes the question that’s on everyone’s mind: so where are those plus sizes?

Why plus sizes are scarce in sustainable fashion

The honest answer: it is incredibly difficult to find large(r) sizes in sustainable fashion. And that is not due to a lack of will, but often due to costs and production.

Anyone who has ever sat behind a sewing machine might understand this immediately. From size 42/44 upwards, a pattern changes so significantly that much more fabric is needed. Sometimes almost double.

For sustainable brands, this means not only higher fabric costs, but also additional costs for adjusting patterns. And those higher costs cannot simply be passed on – no one wants the same dress to suddenly be twice as expensive.

Because sustainable fabrics are more expensive to begin with, and production volumes are smaller than in fast fashion, these costs add up considerably. Large chains solve this by using cheap synthetic fabrics and running production on a massive scale. Small, sustainable brands simply cannot do that.

The painful reality: money and demand

Yes, it is ultimately a matter of money. Suppliers I spoke with admitted honestly that producing larger sizes is often not feasible within their small budgets and margins.

And then there is another factor: in practice, the demand for large(r) sizes is lower. While the costs are actually much higher. Brands often start with good intentions regarding larger sizes, but stop after a few seasons because sales do not outweigh the production costs.

And honestly? I recognize this too. Over the past nine years, I have always purchased larger sizes, but they noticeably often remained in stock even during sales. Every entrepreneur knows: clothes that don’t sell cost money. Money that I need to purchase new collections, pay my team, and simply keep the shop running.

What do we mean by “everyone is welcome”?

Does this mean we aren’t inclusive? That you aren’t welcome at Natur-el if you are a size 46+? No. To me, inclusivity is about much more than just sizes.

An example: a six-year-old boy once came into the shop for wool undershirts. I asked him which color he liked. His answer? “Bright pink.” I grabbed the shirt from the rack with pleasure. His parent had tears in their eyes – in other shops, they had often been told that pink was “for girls.”

For me, that is inclusivity. That everyone is allowed to be themselves, regardless of size, preference, or background. That you are welcome, that your choice is respected, and that you leave the shop with a smile.

What Natur-el can and cannot offer

I have never been a plus-size specialist. What I did want – and still want – is a shop with beautiful sustainable collections, fairly produced and purchased with love.

My mission remains: to create a place where everyone is welcome. Even though we cannot always offer every size, the door is always open. And I love to listen to your tips. Do you know of brands that do have good, sustainable plus sizes? Let me know, and I will happily share them.

Because let’s be honest: there is still work to be done. But you were always welcome – and you always will be.

Love,
Vera