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why Brandy Melville can't be cancelled
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ส.ค. 2024
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 intro
02:10 my experience w/Brandy Melville & stores similar
10:31 Who is Brandy Melville
14:37 Brandy Melville & Fast Fashion
19:04 Brandy Melville unethical practices
21:26 arguments for "one size"
26:23 the aftermath of the documentary
29:26 conclusion
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Instilling body shame in children and teens, and telling them that to fit into your brand's clothes is to be perfect and desireable is a messed up marketing strategy but it works. We learn that the problem is our bodies instead of the clothes or brand.
Brandy clothes aren't that special but they are loved because they are exclusive, which just means fat or mid sized people can't wear them. Fitting into them automatically makes you special and a bit "better" than other people, which makes you like the brand more. It gives you an identity as a person who fits into that brand, which is so messed up.
Completely agree. Clothes are supposed to fit our bodies, not the other way around!
exactly couldve stopped at "it works", people always just follow the money... and if women make insecurity and low intelligence profitable then sure men will cash in.
@@stonersirenthe „women“ youre talking about are literally vulnerable underage girls
i can fit and i’m not perfect 🤷🏼♀️
you are better for fitting in clothes that more than half of america couldn’t even dream of fitting into ur better for having self control
The "made in Italy" tag is actually the product of a corrupted law. Basically if a single part of a clothing item, could be even only the tag sewing saying "brandy Melville" or the zipper is made in Italy, then the whole piece can be tagged "made in Italy". It happens the same with HIGH luxury brands. At this point Italian name brands that really produce in Italy are pretty rare, and awfully difficult to find. I'm Italian and I never knew that brandy was supposed to be Italian, as there are very very few shops. Most likely the whole piece of garment is made in china, and then in Italy they apply the name tag or something as simple as a button. It's incredibly misleading, and because I live here I'm aware of these manufacturing tactics, but if I weren't, I'd be misled as well
this is so frustrating! i wish there was a consistent way to know where and how these brands produce their items. not even just to know the location where it’s made, bc as Alexa mentioned China ≠ bad and european ≠ good, but i wish brands were more transparent about the production process overall. i wanna see where you’re creating things, and maybe even the artisan process. it seems only big fashion houses or small brands do these things, and it’s always hard to tell how authentic those clips are.
In the HBO documentary, they actually were made in italy but in sweatshops with poor conditions for the workers :-/
@@laer.393the only reason i feel bad about buying things from China or India is because i know for sure they're going to use slave labor, but i don't know what brands aren't using slave labor these days. trying to buy used clothes as much as possible but i'm working poor, so i don't have much options anyways. :<
"made in USA" items are often made using american slave labor via our prisons. they are paid a few cents an hour. you can't tell me that's not slavery or differentiate it meaningfully from the most horrific overseas slave labor. it's also protected by the 13th amendment, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, **except as a punishment for crime** whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." that's what prison labor is, slave labor with extra steps.
we need to call it how it is. we aren't free till we are all free.
@@MossTunic Not everything made in India or China is made with slave labor 😭😭 There are also honest Chinese brands and goods made in those countries that are made to last.
Truly unreal that you have to feel scared of posting a video criticizing such an openly evil brand because people cape for it so hard for no reason!! Impressed and proud of u for the thoughtfulness, effort, and vulnerability that went into this❤
As a plus size woman (who has been “plus size” literally since childhood), I don’t feel like I’m missing anything from not being able to shop at BM, because honestly, they are like a basic white girl factory (saying this as a basic white girl). No personality whatsoever. Everything looks the same. However, I’m now super disgusted by the practice of the owner ogling literal teenagers. I didn’t even know about that. I really value your educational videos, keep them coming!! :)
I'm loving the direction your channel has been taking lately! I obviously love all of your content but your deeper looks into topics such as fast fashion/sustainability/attitudes towards consumerism/body image are my favorite.
I have to agree so much !!
true i love to hear her opinions❤
I’m so tired of the “brandy Melville is for petite girls” argument. Thank you for bringing up that “petite” sizing is based on height!! I’m petite and right around the straight size/plus size borderline. I wear American Eagle extra short jeans and buy most of my work clothes in the petite option from old navy- because I am 5 feet tall!!
Yes! I don't understand why people are so aggressive when talking about the brand either! I left a comment days ago agreeing that BM isn't a petite store and there are other popular stores with small and smaller options available... and some girl took that as an opportunity to fat shame me? I never mentioned my weight and I technically would be BM's demographic, but I don't know how people think its ok to just fat shame people in public TH-cam comments?
@@leahvandyke2409 yeah I’m not sure why they feel attacked… it’s not like the brand is going anywhere. And really, it seems people would prefer they expanded their sizing instead of just disappearing, but then again I think the exclusivity is part of why some people like the brand. I have to wonder how that exclusivity could be worth it. Like for example I got a skirt recently from aerie in my normal size that I felt fit a lot looser than other skirts I have, so I thought I could size down in it. Something as simple as that isn’t an option when you’ve only got one size.
@@jj-reads that's so true, there can absolutely be stores that cater for smaller sizes, but surely it should be a range of sizes rather than one size
With pants, it isn't just about inseam length, it's about rise. I am not tall (5'5") but used to buy tall jeans in misses to get a rise that didn't cut me/give me a wedgie/camel toe once I sized out of juniors. Sizing up does not solve this problem. In jackets & dresses petites sizing often fit me better since I am short from shoulder to natural waist. Straight & plus sized pants having more inseam options is a start but it doesn't solve all fit issues. I still have problems with dresses since the bodice often doesn't fit my proportions. Petite plus sizing is not always an option :(
@@yensid4294 good point! I guess what I should have said is that petite is based on proportions. Height often indicates proportions but as you’ve pointed out, not always. Increased size options would really benefit everyone
hahahahah brandy not fast fashion?!?! when i was an ultra depressed teen girl with a severe ED i shopped there but i was always aware that i was there for the validation and NOT the quality. those clothes were SO THIN they would stretch out weirdly never go back to their shape and would fall apart in a couple months. i considered it worse quality than even forever 21. my grandma was italian and she would see my tops and be like "they have to be lying that is NOT italian quality"
I visited a BM in New York city once since I wanted to know what all the hype was about... I was disappointed - by the sizing, the lack of personality of the clothes, but mailny - the seemingly poor quality of the garments... I thought I was in one of their boutiques where they only had "outlet" pieces... :D
I find this weird because I shopped there a bunch and I still have and wear my Brandy Melville clothes today. One skirt has small holes but the rest are in almost perfect condition. They are also all natural materials as opposed to polyester... which unfortunately everything is today.
@@pixelpond378and yet they’re made in the same sweat shops all the polyester clothes are made in. You’d honestly be better off shopping at target for better quality
Hearing your story about duct taping your tummy just broke me 😢😢 a tiny baby should not hr thinking like that, im so happy to see where you are now 🩷
No fr I started BAWLING in tha club 😭😭😭😭
I also got very emotional at that moment. I wanted to give little Alexa a big hug.
I think it's silly that people try to claim Brandy Melville is catering toward petites because looking at the lengths on the garments, I still wouldn't be able to wear them because I would end up walking on my own pants. Petite women come in many shapes and sizes and the common thread is that we're shorter, not always smaller. Also petite brands usually exclusively use petite models, and I haven't looked much at their website but so far I haven't seen any petite models.
Case in point, I straight up know I’m not gonna fit in their jeans, my hips are too wide - and I’m very short. Also, I have boobs which already gives me a 50% chance of not fitting in tops.
@@stardust6691shop somewhere else…
I'm technically petite (5 2, and I have really small feet). But I have to buy jeans from curvey lines because I have really wide hips and a large badonk (I've had a kid and I'm currently pregnant with my second) I pretty much never fit into jeans with standard waist/hip ratios. I used to feel like it was a me problem, when it's absolutely not of course
I am so sorry that you went through this. I went through the same horrific experience with being praised for having an ED. I am struggling right now with my current body, but I have to remember that I was doing much worse then
Same
Just remember the Bible says you are Wondrously made. (Psalms) An amazing creation that could never be duplicated!
The body is just an earth suit, try seeing yourself in the same light God does, from the Beauty and potential that radiates from Within. Im 61, been there, easier said than done I know. I pray you are set free beautiful friends!
@maryinthemaking7211 thank you for the reminder
proud of the progress you have made!! sending love to you
@@RZTree thank you!!
You make such a good point with the people who defend it as a “petite” store. There are other stores that sell petite sizes, and the items are an xs/s with long arm and leg lengths… so clearly they are prioritizing a certain weight not just “petite” people.
Not that urban outfitters is by any means a good brand, but they do sell size xs (smaller than Brandy items) and constantly run sales. It’s not like Brandy is the only popular brand that can is affordable and available at most malls. (And a LOT of the items in the sale section and online are an xs)
I would freaking love a plus-size store for petites. I'm in a weird borderland, but aware enough to know that way way too many brands assume that if you're large (or just have large hips -sigh-) you must also be tall. Obviously. You couldn't be short and have wide hips! You couldn't be short and be overweight. You couldn't be all three.... never! Urgh.
Why is Urban Outfitters not a good brand?
@@softypandaatheir clothes are really small
Brandy Melville is frankly disgusting. I can't believe they're still around. I only own one BM top and I thrifted it for $6. I would never buy anything from them. I feel like thrifting is a win bc it doesn't give them any money, but I'm still considering getting rid of it or at least cutting the tag out.
bruh
@@ughlwtmechangerhisthabks8349?
I’m so thankful Brandy didn’t take off until I was in my 20s. I remember struggling enough with Abercrombie/Hollister/Aeropostale in middle school and high school. Not only were their clothes tiny, they were also not cut for curves. Even when I was a size 4, I had thighs and hips that those just brands didn’t cater to.
I’ve been loving all your thoughtful, meaningful content lately! I mean, I love a good thrift haul or styling video all day long 😍 but it’s refreshing to see/hear someone take a moment and reflect on the why’s and how’s.
I was thinking the same thing! The White Hot Netflix documentary really reminded me how bad Abercrombie was when I was a teenager, this brand feels the same. I guess the more things change the more they stay the same.
That is exactly what I thought, they are Abercrombie 2024. So glad I was nearly in my 30's when this trash came out
Brandy loyalists completely buy into the exclusionary marketing and feel like they're in a cool in-group. Meanwhile they are selling their soul for basics (literally basic tees and jeans, not "basic" as a pejorative). It's not cool to be mean or fatphobic, hopefully they grow up and realize this.
Also spending so. Much. Money. Just to be a bully quite frankly. I doubt anyone but insecure people support it and buy it. While there is nothing wrong with being insecure, there is something wrong with ignorance.
It’s really sad about how this company preys upon so many insecurities to make money. I’m a petite at 5’1”, but I have a 38D chest. I’m not going to starve myself to fit into those clothes.
Sadly too many influencers “take the bag” with old navy and target sponsors and now the public thinks a dress should be $8. Brandy isn’t any better but they have a far smaller market share than the huge clothing brands we see influencers praise while putting affiliate/magik links in the description. Thanks for being a friend of the planet we call Earth 🌍
I think people are starting to wake up. A loooooot of people have started buying vintage because the quality is better. Just wait until they realize that that same quality is still being produced today, it's just not $8 lol
Thanks for also pointing out the other side of the weight spectrum. I have always struggled to gain weight and 'accused' of having an eating disorder, while it was just my body’s configuration. I usually miss this side in the body positivity movement, so appreciate you mentioning it.
Me, too.
A good friend of mine also struggled with this. Your struggles are just as valid!
“Brunette for diversity” fully cracked me up. But I think that statement and the following points highlight an important link between thin bodies and white supremacy. Especially when you take into account the book “Fearing the Black Body” by Sabrina Strings and the bmi system’s standard of “healthy” being based on thin white bodies
wasn't this book debunked?
@@joannexdd5628 I wasn’t able to find any information debunking it
The bmi system was actually created in Belgium and based on european white men specifically. So, it's a completely irrelevant number for anyone that isn't an average white man.
@@AlexJosephDesignsSam at Every Size has a video debunking it actually! Highly recommend her channel, it’s very informative
@@moriahmattson2220bmi is outdated and doesn't take into account different disabilities and mass like weightlifters and how heavy they can become bulking, etc.
To tag on to the "don't criticize the brands, just stop shopping there" argument, i also think that the criticizing is important because it soreads awareness. There are so many instances of unethical behavior that i only learned about because someone else talked about it, so the "criticizing" isn't so much just complaining, but it's letting others know to look into things and decide if they want to support the brand as well
Exactly. I'm not likely to buy anything from Brandy Melville anyway but now I know to never support the brand.
I tried on a pair of brandy Melville pants the other day at the thrift store and honestly found myself getting excited that they fit. I remember being a 7th grader and loving a similar pair but not being able to zip them up. So scary how that’s followed me into adulthood to the point where I am excited that a pair of pants fit, not because of the design of the pants, but because of the brand and the connotation of that brand. It shows how long insecurities like that can stick with a person and affect the way they think.
yeah i was the same with their plaid skirts. i barely fit into them in highschool and now i don’t fit into them at all and i’ve just accepted it. (still keeping them) ((help))
Topics like this are so disheartening because sometimes i feel like we are progressing towards a better society where people speak up more about things and then other times i feel like its a backslide where you hope people will make a change when something is exposed to be harmful but instead respond with apathy as a CHOICE and ignoring literal slave labor for the convenience of buying the most basic crop top for $18. They can’t even say they provide a market for plus size people like other fast fashion brands. I understand it’s difficult to eliminate harmful practices because it’s so ingrained in everyday life but to make jokes about wanting to buy MORE from the brand out of spite is infuriating
Authorities should check that guy's computer. I bet it's full of CP. 🤮😡
I really don't understand how they haven't been canceled in all those years... Like it always felt weird to me and I'm very glad it didn't affect me personally negatively - even tho I would have probably fit, I never bought from them since it felt weird... But now hearing about that owner: so gross! Makes so much sense now but I'm sooo disgusted. A prime example of how powerful men get their way in this patriarchal society and how the male gaze keeps harming people. Also the pure racism - insaneee
Thank you!!!!!!
Like, if you’re okay with all of that racism and the predatory shit then there is something wrong with you too!
I really appreciate your vulnerability with this video. I am finally in a stable place with my own ED Recovery & still struggle with wanting to fit into brands that are clearly not made for me as their target customer. As a Latinx woman, I think the layer of companies not wanting BIPOC folks represented is so evident even in the Eurocentric sizing of the clothing. Beyond the one size, there is no hip room, no chest room, nothing for the folks who exist in smaller bodies but don’t have straight up and down bodies! I think it’s so hard to find brands who are hitting all these important components of ethicality, sustainability, and meaningful inclusivity, unfortunately!
I remember the day I became aware of my body type. I was in my 8th grade math class and walking between the rows to go ask the teacher a question and I bumped into the desk of a boy in my class and he said out loud to his friends "oh look the fatty can't fit between the rows". That comment has lived in my brain since it happened. Now that I'm older I wish I could go back and tell myself that I am beautiful and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the way I look. I have a younger sister who is still in high school and it breaks my heart to think that she could ever look at herself and ever think that she is anything less than gorgeous and I never ever want her to look at herself and think the things I've thought about myself. Acceptance and appreciation for how I look has been a long long road that I am still walking and for anyone reading this you are perfect just the way you are and if you feel bad about your body I truly wish that one day you will look at yourself and love what you see just the way you are.
also thank you Alexa for sharing your experience I absolutely adore your videos and your positivity
there’s a brandy melville near my house and ugh. it has lines of teens waiting outside all the time. no other store has this. i feel so bad when i see girls who probably won’t fit any of their clothes waiting to go in cause i just know they’re gonna feel like shit in there. so sad
why are you bodyshaming tho? who gives you the right to comment about someone elses body. ‘probably won’t fit’. like shut up. talk about yourself not other girls
@youwqq1391 I didn't ready that as bodyshaming at all???? The video just went over how limited the size is. Not all xs fit the same way. A small girl can go in and feel worse because she isn't small "enough"
@@youwqq1391be real with yourself thanks❤
@@youwqq1391 the fact that you interpreted my comment as body shaming is sad. brandy melville only fits a size xs/s. if someone is larger than that they won’t fit into their clothes. it would only be bodyshaming if you assume that me saying someone is larger than size small is bad. i never implied that. there is absolutely nothing wrong with being bigger than the size made by brandy melville and it is sad that someone who is bigger feels the pressure to try to fit into their clothes.
damn, where are you? There's one in Toronto and the sidewalk which has got to be 15 feet wide is always flooded with girls trying to get in
It's important to point out these brands and how they actively prey on insecurities particularly since it would seem that "heroine chic" is coming back into style.
Heroin not heroine.
As someone who struggles to put on weight and is tall and very thin in a way people made it known to be not good looking by the types of comments I received from other kids and grown adults growing up and feeling very insecure of my stature, ouch to the heroin look comment😂 I know that’s not what you meant tho
Brandy Manville is NOT luxury quality, that person is delulu. And ‘it’s made in Italy’ does not equate to slow fashion. Some things I bought from there when I was in my early 20s have been the worst quality of anything I’ve ever bought and I’m not exaggerating.
My husband started watching some of the doc with me and he had never heard of Brandy before and said "they just dont exist anymore right? Like no way this is still a business." Its wild to me people would still want to work there after all thats gone on
Thank you for sharing this part of yourself. I was also shamed by adults as a teen primarily because I had a curvy body that I had to hide. I also received praise from nearly everyone in my life when I developed an ED to go from size 10 to 4.
Adults shaming kids for their body, which is still under development, is sooo mean and evil! Just why, why do adults partake in the bullying?! It's so sad and wrong... I'm sorry that you had to experience that...
It’s so interesting how criticisms regarding sizing, and maybe to a lesser extent race, really only serve to bolster the brand cos the exclusivity is the point. Like it’s a good thing (for the company) if people complain cos it’s ‘marketing’ they don’t have to do to emphasise the benefits of the brand. Like it’s affirming it’s customer base that they really are in a desirable exclusive club and that’s what they’re buying into when they purchase the clothes.
As someone who has dealt with body image, disordered eating, and dysmorphia issues their entire life, I FULLY support this video and your take. It’s important to note, as you did, that everyone is different and no two bodies are the same or experience life the same way. But conditioning children to grow up thinking this way has always been deplorable, manipulative, and SO engrained that we don’t even know it’s happening and shaping our entire lives. I currently live in a mid to plus size body, and even in 2024 it feels like nothing has changed since the 90s/2000s. We need to keep talking about it. Thank you for putting yourself out there. 💜
I've not heard of this brand, but ugh! My favorite one-size brand is Innika Choo, originally designed to be loose-fitting but can be made tighter with belts, but they've actually since changed to include a wider range of sizes anyway which is fair enough!
I'm so sorry that you got treated that way as a kid, agh! So gross and I'm sorry especially adult teachers failed you. And I literally want to fight Mr. Melville outside an ihop at 3am AFJDSJFLKS
I’m going to check Innika Choo out now. Thanks for the tip!
I'm 5'11 so no matter how hard i tried even under my healthy bmi at times in my youth i could/will never fit into an xs or s and it took me 20+ years to finally accept and realize that's OK and normal we aren't supposed to fit clothes, clothes are made to fit us
This one hit hard. It was a struggle growing up and dealing with not fitting into clothes or the image of what I was supposed to be. I was older when this brand came out, but it horrifies me to think what other young people have had to go through. Thank you for sharing your very painful and personal story!
I'm a size 12 US and used to think nothing in brandy melville fits me. I went in the only store here in Belgium a few months ago and tried on a few tops. 1 tank top fit me perfectly so I bought that. But tops with long sleeves, were just way too tight on me. And I know that bottoms wouldn't fit me. I love the aesthetic of brandy melville, but the size inclusivity just isn't it. It has affected me a bit that size XS/S is labelled 'the norm' for teenagers, while there are more girls like me with a big bust en bottom (which we can't change cuz that's just genetics)...
Xs/s is definitely not considered the norm for teenage girls.
teenage girls in the US are generally M and L so yeah even the argument/logic that the tiny sizing is for teens isn’t saving them🤣. i think sizing in general is just a mess for womens clothing though bc brands don’t even try to standardize anything for us. telling that u could fit a top until it has sleeves; like they didn’t even try to make them stretchy?
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I suffered from an ED myself when I was younger, and as I got older and eventually got married, my ex-husband starved me. When I got divorced, I gained quite a bit of weight, and it made me feel so bad about myself that I wasn't "skinny" like I used to be. It's taken a couple years to finally realize that my weight now is healthy, because I was literally starved for a large period of my life. I've been working a lot on maintaining my weight in a healthy way, and it does get easier every day, but it's still hard.
I'm so sorry you had to go through what you did. No child, teenager, or adult should have to go through that. You are beautiful and valid, and I'm so happy to have found your channel a few years ago. Keep up the amazing work ❤❤
Thank you for making this video. I too had an eating disorder (back in college) and it’s healing to hear someone else talk about it and the pressure that media puts on both men and women with body image.
As a 43 year old lady who has struggled with food/exercise/ body issues since childhood and went into treatment in her 20's , I appreciate your video and would love more content like this.❤❤
Brandy Melville is the poor man's Dolce and Gabbana. Their owners double down on ignorance and bigotry and their supporters cheer them on. You can't change the minds of people like that. It's not worth the frustration of trying.
must be an italian issue lol
this vid hits so close to home. as a young teen who was mid size i wanted to be thin so badly. all of my favorite youtubers wore cool brands like brandy and pacsun and i wanted to be like them. in 2017 i went to pacsun for the first time and everyone was wearing mom jeans at the time and i wanted a pair. i chose a pair that looked about my size and when i tried them on they fit so tightly and i began to cry. one of the employees asked if they fit and i said yes cus i panicked. i bought the pants and wore them out one single time because they were so uncomfortable. that moment scarred me so bad and knew i could never fit into brandy so i avoided it. i lost weight as i got older and realized mom jeans are horribly unflattering on me despite my weight so that made me feel better lol. growing up a little chunkier than my peers made me so insecure and seeing brandy especially still be defended after all these years is mind boggling.
So sorry you went through all that 😔 all those brands are really messed up they shld be ashamed of themselves! Xx
I noticed those comments on TikTok of people mentioning how they will continue to shop there etc.. it’s so frustrating but unfortunately people just don’t care and continue to make excuses to shop there, so sad. As someone who struggled with Ed’s I totally relate to what you said and I’m sorry you went through that.
Those of us with a conscience should continue calling out these absolute lovers who believe "cute" clothing is all that matters.
@@Aster_Risklife is short and we live on a floating rock, if those girls want to be miserable trying to fit into and waste money on crappy clothes from a questionable company it’s their business. we shouldn’t stress ourselves over those ppl’s choices, only inform ppl who may be unaware. most of us support companies that are horrible in some capacity, in this world unfortunately u just gotta pick your poison.
Also I’m glad you found the love for yourself that we need to navigate this scary world! We all think you’re adorable (maybe it’s the theme song!)
Thank you so much for shedding light on this depressing and for many even traumatic part of our young adulthood. I wish you and everyone reading this healing and self-acceptance.
Appreciate you voicing this. I'm grateful that my local Kmart sells clothes up into the 20's and there are options like 100% cotton, bamboo and modal. I'm low income because of disabilities and am sensory affected by too much polyester, I overheat so fast.
Love this, took me back to high school when I was buying the one size 12 jeans at hollister to still have my crack show when sitting down, all for that dumb pocket stitching lol
I live outside the US and had only experienced Brandy on holidays to America with my family maybe once or twice. And the trauma of seeing my siblings try on clothes I couldn't, haunts me to this day. It's been maaaaany years now and we have Brandy unfortunately in Australia now. Makes me sad when I watch kids go in with their friends and I know they'll be feeling the way I did. It's disgusting. The chokehold this company has on people is equally disgusting. We got over American Apparel, why can't they get over this!
Real petite sizing is based on height thank you! I’m barely 5 foot and curvaceous, i shop petite because it fits me the best, brandy…not petite. They obviously only want people who are THIN THIN to fit, it is not a petite friendly store or even a petite store, like if their pant legs are longggg and long sleeves incredibly long that is obviously not petite, stupid argument people try to make there😂
Have you ever read the book, little black stretchy pants? It documents the start of the Lululemon company. The founder, Chip Wilson, chose the name because he knew that Japanese people would have trouble pronouncing Lululemon. He thought it was hilarious. In addition , he said the not all women’s bodies are right for his Yoga pants.
I really loved hearing your thoughtful take on this. I ESPECIALLY appreciate the language you used. Very inclusive!
I agree that it’s very easy to get Brandy items second hand. I’ve gotten all of my Brandy stuff second hand. Because of my petite size, Brandy is a brand I know I can buy and will fit me properly, but second hand really is the way to go because they’re even cheaper and so easy to find second hand.
I always see BM when thrifting and I pass because I don't want those bad vibes on my body.
Adults shaming child bodies and promoting disordered eating and over-exercise is enraging.
i literally wanted to cry hearing your struggles. I struggled with a lot of the same things. I was also praised while extremely malnourished. I was also so lethargic and extremely depressed. I am so glad more many people are speaking up about these things, and I hope less kids will be subjected to such insane criticism. We should all be focused on being healthy and happy 🌱🌼 life is too short to be trying to please people who’s opinions are skewed anyway
This is such an important topic to continue to talk about! Love the video!
Bravo! Most significant fashion video ever. Applaud your courage highlighting discrimination, racism and abuse.
I remember going to the Brandy & Melville store in Vienna (Europe) a lot when they first opened and back then I was the absolute skinniest I ever was and dealing with very disordered eating (now I know that my parents even were worried about me back then) and yet I still didn't fit into most of their clothes because of my naturally very wide pelvis. Not even in their shorts labelled as EU size 44 (L-XL) I could close the button although my regular size was S/M in bottoms and I was looking at all the incredibly skinny girls shopping there and thinking how I was still too fat.
The only good thing was that I was aware of my wide pelvis and because of that I decided that their bottoms just weren't the right cut for me and brushed it off instead of going even harder on my disordered eating.
i am so sorry you had to go through all of that. Thank you for also clarifying some people are small and don't have an eating disorder. I have battled the accusations of having an eating disorder my whole life which i think takes away from those who really are struggling . All sizes are beautiful and i don't like brands who are not inclusive.
It’s kinda crazy the chokehold this brand has, I live in a major city and people are lined up down the street to get into brandy melville in this year of our lord, 2024!!!!! Crazy!!!
Toronto?
@@oliviakryk Vancouver 🫣
Seems like their clientele like the exclusion, which is why it's so hard to cancel this company.
Proud of you for making this video. I know it had to be somewhat difficult. I too struggled with an eating disorder for over twenty years so I’m glad you’re putting it out there what exactly these stores are doing. Keep it up. And you’re beautiful just as you are. My favorite TH-camr !!
LOVE LOVE LOVE your honesty on this! Not going to lie, I totally CRINGE seeing new hauls from the brand; second-hand I don't mind. I'm a minority who used to work for Abercrombie & Fitch and luckily I didn't experience even close to similar parallels referenced on this documentary nor the "White Hot" documentary but that doesn't stop me from feeling yucky anyone had to go through this:( I've never bought from Abercrombie nor Brandy after these documentaries.
You were understanding consumers may like certain clothes from the brand, but if you're going to buy not to buy directly from the brand but buy second hand. Well done, probably one of the best documentary follow ups to this disturbing and sad story! I think you highlighted so many important viewpoints from a realistic perspective.
That owner is very predatory. I think when you target teenagers and play with yet to mature self esteem and worth that is setting those teenagers up for a body image that many will never achieve. If the store was targeting adult, well that would still be bad, but not as psychologically scarring. As a society, we have to start steering away from shoving every woman into the same rigid box. If you wear a brand, you ARE promoting that brand.
Ok this is hard to communicate but give me the benefit of the doubt here cause that’s probably what I was trying to say: brands that cater to certain body types are fine. Shaming people who don’t fit into a brands body type is horrible. If Brandy was simply a small size range brand that catered to girls who were thinner and taller or thinner and shorter then it would be fine. However, because Brandy shames people for not fitting then it’s not a good brand.
Haven't watched the documentary yet, but I was bigger than I am now when I was in middle school and high school. I didn't grow up wirth Brandy Millville around me and similar popular brands of the time (late 2000's to mid 2010's) were a nightmare to shop in. Honestly I'm a little bit scared to watch the documentary. Thank you for sharing your experience. ❤
Yes!! Loved this video! It is so important that you talked about the stigma "made in china" has. When we equate all made in china goods to cheap/sweatshop labor, we ignore the artisans and living wage factories that exist there!! Clothes made in any country has a risk for labor exploitation. Even here in America!! Or in Italy as you mentioned. Many forget the prison slave labor is used in such a large amount of made in America items.
My heart broke hearing about your duct tape incident, and I can tell how passionate you are about this subject and thank you for bringing that to the discussion.
Any adult making light of the subject and mocking people who try to hold companies accountable for their actions and problems are frankly pathetic. I hope they can recover from brain rot and brainwashing. But it scares me to think of teens and young people saying those things and believing them… I hope they learn how to love themselves and others no matter their size and don’t get targeted by a predator 😞
Thank you so much for sharing! i remember being a teen and all my friends wore brandy. Once i went in to the store and nothing fit it was so horrible, it is very much the feeling of 'my body must be wrong' which as a teen is so upsetting. I have so much anger towards high street brands in general because (apparently) some only stock a few larger sizes of items so you just have to shop online for them if you are bigger, rather than being in their store, which is just horrible.
I always loved thirfting because I dont feel shame about not finding things in my size, or not having the same items as everyone else (ie brandy). The point of thirfting was to find someone unique. And of course sustainable.
Sorry for the ramble, thanks again :)
Thank you for making such an informative and vulnerable video. You are amazing, and I look up to your bravery for taking a stand
I think the reason why Brandy really can’t be canceled is their demographic. They’ve perfected the art of appealing to a young audience that either isn’t used to (or isn’t able to) think with the nuance of “you can buy from a brand and still critique it.” This is the power of branding - they have a chokehold on the emotional realities of young girls who haven’t developed mentally enough to understand how big this problem is.
What a great video. As the mother of a young daughter I fear for her body image as she gets older. Thank you for sharing this story.
There’s something incredibly insidious about encouraging grown women to remain the sizes they were as a child or young teenager. Maybe not inherently sexualizing the bodies of young girls, but definitely preferring the physical appearances of them.
agree about brandy not actually being as small as it was, i dont live in the US but i consume a lot of US media from youtube, ALL i heard about brandy was saying how INSANELY SMALL their sizes were, i checked the site and the (low rise) jeans were 28", like yeah, it's pretty small but it's not insanely tiny like a lot of people would say. also BM sells TONS of stretchy sweatpants that are 26" on the waist, BM sizes arent tiny at all. they're absolutely not catering to the XS crowd
Fantastic video! I had never heard Brandy come up in fast fashion discussions before so that is really making me want to take a closer look at the brands I support. I (like many of us) have struggled with my body image and I remember a sick sense of pride I had when I was able to fit into Brandy’s clothes, although I was still convinced I was fat and disgusting.
The debate on buying these “bad” brands secondhand is really interesting and could probably warrant a video of its own. Generally speaking I will buy things like Shein secondhand. I have mixed feelings about buying brands like Brandy even secondhand because the owner is so gross and I think I might feel weird saying that anything I own it technically from them.
i never knew the story behind this brand.;; when i was a teenager i wanted to work in a store and they asked my jeanssize and they said i was too big too work there; (this was not brandy) i would never buy from this size, there clothing are bad quality and they are overprized.. i love this content from you,; please keep making these..
I’ve never really bought anything from that brand and certainly will not until they make some major changes.
I felt so much shame around not being able to fit into or afford Abercrombie or Hollister in middle school. I would thrift stuff to fit in but it barely fit and I was uncomfortable all the time. California childhood can be incredibly hostile to larger and lower income kids. Can't imagine what it must be like now with social media. Thank you for opening up in this vid girl love you
I have struggled with body image for most of my life and have dealt with EDs, as well. I am in my 40s and even now I have days where I think I have to work out immediately if I feel like I eat more than I should. Had Brandy Melville been around when I was younger, I guarantee it would have fueled my hatred for my body.
A really good documentary on fast fashion is The True Cost. Amazing and eye opening. Really got me to change my shopping habits
You are so brave and strong, not only for sharing, but also surviving your ED. Thank you for opening up to spread awareness.
Thank you for shedding light on this!!! It needed to be said!!!
Thank you for being open about this
Ugh, I shiver to remember being a chubby middle schooler in the hollister dressing room with terrible lighting and then walking out defeated and filled with self loathing.
So, I grew up fat. Even when i was a tiny baby, i was overweight. Im still hefty to this day. Its literally just natural for me. Obviously, I was bullied for this growing up, but somehow it never managed to make me hate my body or made me starve myself (i have issues with food, but due to poverty, not body image). Only being seen. I used to envy average and skinny gals because i thought they didnt get made fun of for their bodies, but as I've gotten older Ive learned that literally everyone is hurt by the beauty standards
The not having any pictures from your childhood is soo sad. I also dont have any for pretty much the same reason. And whenerver I do find one now, it is scary how fast I check my body as a child to see whether I was „already fat“ back then.
Love how this is like a mini podcast! You’re so close girlie! Would be so cool to see your future pod feature other awesome people like Carrie or Karina 😊
Thank you for sharing a part of your story with us.
i hate to say it, but the questionable and predatory nature of the owner is probably the best angle to get people to truly turn against the brand. racism, ED’s, and things like that aren’t always dealbreakers for people but almost universally we can agree that creepy old men being predatory on young girls is a hell no. that part needs to be told more! as a black woman the racism bit barely phases me bc as u said, every company sucks. i’ve heard it all before. i also can fit the clothing and have had items BM items that i bought at pacsun unknowingly and loved. but knowing more about the owner literally makes my stomach turn and does make me wish for their downfall more than anything. way too creepy for him to be that involved in the hiring process, and the correlation with wanting girls to be super small and such just rubs me completely wrong. F that guy and BM!
I was a chubby kid, too. And it definitely contributed to my later ED. At my absolute skinniest, the people who’d praised my weight loss at the beginning suddenly did a u-turn & started harassing me about “just eating something”, and asking why I was so sick looking. Y’ALL ARE THE REASON!😭 I’ve also been praised for losing weight during the depths of substance addiction, with one coworker in particular constantly asking me how I was doing it. Obviously I couldn’t tell the truth, “by spending all my money on *rugs” lol Jfc.
Abercrombie & Hollister traumatized me during my teenage years…really depressing that Brandy Melville is here to do the same to gen Z & alpha!
Thank you for sharing this Alexa I had never heard about this. And sharing your personal experience. I would never have guessed you suffered through body issues.
There is an old,old saying.
-Pretty is as pretty does. -
It’s what you put forth that is beautiful and you are an amazingly beautiful lady. ❤
Thank you for making this video.
ur so well spoken, great video
Goodmorning :) I have the day off today so I can watch this on time :)
I remember going to Abercrombie for the first and last time when I was in high school in 2002. I was about 14, 130 lbs and 5’7”. I barely fit in to the XL when I normally wore a medium at most. It messed with me. I’m in my third decade now and I still remember it.
their sizing is much better now, i’m sorry that even happened to you!! 130 at 5’7 literally sounds perfectly slim😭. these brands were unbelievable in the 2000s… it sounds like these brands must have been making clothing for actual elementary schoolers or something.
Alexa! This breaks my heart. You went through something so traumatic! I am so sorry. You are so wonderful.
It feels as though the owner doesn't truly care ab the clothing or the brand itself but rather wishes to use the brand as a means to (not so subtly) project his far-right views onto others. Its never about the designs/fit of the clothes and entirely about the models wearing the clothes and the appearance of it all which should be the least important component. All of it makes me feel sick to my stomach.
I wonder what else these Companies r into 😵 ... Great Investigative Reporting!!
my heart is so broken for you, for myself, and for everyone else impacted by this bullshit. people putting this stuff into kid’s heads are so sick. and like you said, so many people around you encourage disordered eating with their praise of your discipline and body. people like my mom said these things to me, she said she wished she could get to be as disciplined as i had gotten. right when it clicked that these comments made starving myself feel even better i felt angry with her, but with some time i’ve realized she’s just another victim of the same system we have been. really love this video and your ideas. i love listening to you talk fashion and these more serious discussions are really great, i think you handle it well🩵
i am so sorry hearing your ducktape story, it is so heartbreaking. i hate our society for hurting our children so. 😞
also, one size is insane. I am fit and not "big-boned", but still I would hardly fit into XS even during my high school due working in the garden when I was young. later doing sports. eating well. I've just grown well and XS was not possible due my physiology, it would not fit even if i starve. i would have to shave my bones. insane.
also love that you are talking about these problematic topics and sustainability! ❤
Hearing you tell your story, it resonating oh so much to my youth and teenage struggles with body image and ED, feeling so proud of you and so grateful for young people such as yourself on the internet making such a wonderful impact for our girls growing up today. Alexa, I tell you this every time I comment on your videos. You are a breath of fresh air. You are a blessing. You are making a difference and I sincerely greatly appreciate you❤