Lucy & Yak unveils new policy fans say is ‘disappointing, but not surprising’

Whether it’s dungarees, hot pink jumpsuits, or dinosaur-decorated fleeces, clothing brand Lucy & Yak knows how to make a statement.

Amid a world of beige, it’s not only known for bright colours: the British brand has long been praised for its inclusive sizing.

While other big names have failed to stock plus sizes, Lucy & Yak has sought to bring colour to every wardrobe, no matter the body shape of its owner.

But from the spring/summer 2026 season, the brand is phasing out both size 32 and 4XL, meaning that it’ll now stock clothes in sizes 4 to 30.

There has also been a change to its smallest size, a size 4. This has now been moved into the petite range, so customers who are over 5ft 2in will unlikely be able to find size 4 clothes that fit them. The petite range currently only goes up to a size 16.

According to Lucy & Yak, the reason for the changes — on both ends of the sizing scale — is that, at the moment, the brand only produces a ‘very limited’ number of size 4, 32, and 4XL.

As a statement on the Lucy & Yak website explains that the sizes ‘simply aren’t selling through at the same rate as others.’

‘This means too often we’re left with excess stock at the end of the season,’ it adds.

‘Our ultimate goal is to keep clothing on people and out of landfill.’ In chopping the stock, it’s hoping to phase out unnecessary waste and use materials more ‘effectively.’

It adds: ‘Sizing is complex, and we know these conversations are important. Please know that every decision we make is rooted in care — for our community, our planet, and the people who make our clothes.’

Metro has contacted Lucy & Yak for further comment.

The wider slimming down of clothing brands

According to one 2024 study from Mys Tyler that surveyed more than 24,000 women, the average UK size is now a 16-18, and there are twice as many women who wear a size 22 as a size 8.

That mentality isn’t translating on the catwalk, though.

Vogue’s most recent size-inclusivity report shows that of the 8,800 looks showcased on 230 catwalks across the Autumn/Winter 2024 season, less than 1% included plus-sized models (US size 14/UK 18 and up).

The representation for ‘mid-sized models’ – US 6-12/UK 10-16 – was only marginally better, at 3.7%. Plus, high street brands like Next have been called out, after one of their adverts was banned for featuring an ‘unhealthily thin’ model, which later turned out to be digitally altered.

Namilia also previously went viral after plastering its controversial ‘I Love Ozempic’ t-shirt all over its 2024 Berlin Fashion Week runway, and in 2021, clothing brand LOFT axed its plus-sized range.

Dr Lara Zibarras is a food freedom psychologist and an eating disorder recovery coach, and has noticed firsthand that the ‘pressure to be thin’ is increasing. She previously told Metro that ‘people who were once poster figures of body positivity have been losing significant weight – some doing so quietly, while others openly admit to using weight loss drugs.

‘While I firmly believe in “their body, their choice,” this trend is leaving many people in larger bodies feeling isolated,’ she adds.

‘Psychologically, constantly being told that only a thin body is acceptable can negatively impact self-esteem and trigger disordered eating habits. This narrow focus makes people feel like they’re never enough, which is especially damaging for those who are already vulnerable.’

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‘Disappointing but completely unsurprising’

Following Lucy & Yak’s announcement, many fans have been left reeling.

Posting on Instagram @fatpheebs accused the brand of ‘fatphobia,’ and asked: ‘What happened to sustainable inclusion?’

‘This is not inclusion. Inclusivity isn’t temporary. It’s a sustainable practise that every company should be championing,’ they wrote.

‘Instead, we are seeing Lucy & Yak reinforce the narrative that larger bodies should be something you aim to get rid of, rather than include. Fat people have always existed and we always will.

‘We want to wear fun clothes too. We deserve to be included too.’

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Hannah Ogilvie-Young (@queenbeastsays), who hosts the Fats On Film podcast, echoed these sentiments, adding that yet another brand is turning its back on the plus-sized community ‘as if our money doesn’t matter.’

‘They have become a firm favourite in the plus-sized community,’ she said.

‘It’s such a kick in the teeth in this day and age, where we’re constantly bombarded with this thin at any costs mentality.’

‘Our ultimate goal is to keep clothing…out of landfill’

Here’s the tricky part: it’s hard to completely hate on Lucy & Yak’s sizing U-turn when the clothes aren’t selling.

In the UK, approximately 350,000 tonnes of clothing waste are sent to landfills each year, according to the latest Waste Management report. To put that into context: the UK is the fourth largest producer of textile waste in Europe, generating approximately 206,456 tonnes of textile waste annually, which significantly contributes to the global landfill pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Lucy & Yak has said cutting these sizes will help the company achieve three objectives: reduce fabric waste, use materials more effectively across our collections and avoid overproduction and unnecessary surplus.

On Reddit, some fans of the brand say the latest changes are reasonable.

‘People complaining about this are absolutely insane […] Size 4-30 is a CRAZY inclusive range. Most shops that I’m aware of go from around a size 6-22 if you’re lucky,’ one comment reads.

‘A brand going up to a size 30 is great, and getting rid of sizes that aren’t selling is a perfectly reasonable thing to do. It’s not like they’re suddenly going down to a size 18 or anything like that. You people need to give your heads a wobble.’

Another offered a potential solution: ‘While there is still a cost included in pattern grading etc, one wonders if there could have been a middle ground like made-to-order for larger sizes even if they had to upcharge for that.’

What do you think of Lucy & Yak’s sizing change? Let us know in the comments.

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