Asos proudly displays models with stretch marks on its website
Although Asos is one of the most massive retailers in the world, it's been surprisingly thoughtful with its inclusivity. It's had its cute and trendy curve, petite, tall and maternity sections for women for years, and was one of the first retailers to launch a plus-size men's section as well.
So it only feels right that Asos is again getting lauded as one of the first major retailers to promote more realistic images of their models' bodies. These past few days on Twitter, shoppers noticed that Asos is showing models with stretch marks.
Particularly on models who are selling bikinis and bodysuits, you can see plenty of stretch marks on proud display.
Twitter has practically lit up at this news, with women celebrating the fact that they can actually see models with more realistic bodies, baring stretch marks and scars and even birth marks.
So impressed with @Asos for not airbrushing the models stretchmarks👏🏼👏🏼 She looks amazing! pic.twitter.com/OKEZinpjKe
— Amy🦄 (@amyrowlandsx) June 28, 2017
However, it looks as though this policy isn't that new. In 2016, one Twitter user pointed it out herself.
In that case, we suppose Asos just never made a formal statement. The increased attention comes just a few weeks after the indie swimsuit brand Rheya Swim launched with models that had stretch marks as well, garnering that company online buzz.
I loveeee that they haven't airbrushed her stretch marks! Go @ASOS !!!! 😍😍 pic.twitter.com/hBte9PSIer
— Freckz (@Shinadeshadai) June 19, 2017
Regardless of when Asos made this change, it matters. Especially for images of models wearing things like swimwear and lingerie, which are usually heavily airbrushed, this move to not alter the photographs feels like we're inching closer to a world where fashion photography is more realistic, with cellulite and stretch marks on display.
As someone who has always been ashamed of her stretch marks & felt I was the only 1 of my friends to have them, @ASOS are my #MVP! #asos ❤️ pic.twitter.com/nVbtg3p8Hr
— ❤️AffairWithBeauty (@LoveaffairwithB) June 29, 2017
However, one interesting thing that shoppers did notice is that, thus far, stretch marks on the plus-size and curve models Asos uses are still hard to find.
YASS @ASOS editing out the stretch marks on your plus size models because they're not cute if they're not on a size 8 🙄 pic.twitter.com/mjgeybirhq
— amy 𓆏 (@amyelsw) June 30, 2017
We ourselves couldn't find any marks on the models either. In the meantime, Mic has reached out to Asos for further information.