UK retailer Topshop is receiving a barrage of criticism over the use of ultra-thin Mannequins. The retailer came under fire for its use of what customers deemed to be abnormally thin mannequins just two years ago and vowed to put a stop to the practice. The evident failure to do so has sparked a new round of criticism, with customers and several leading UK-based charities denouncing the brand across social media networks.

“It’s shocking to see the return of ultra-thin mannequins at Topshop, almost two years after the retailer said it will stop using them,” Denise Hatton, chief executive of the National Council of YMCAs and a founding partner of body image campaign Be Real, told the Telegraph. “Only ever seeing one body type in fashion advertising, particularly an extremely thin body type, risks creating an insidious pressure to attempt to become something we’re not. While many clothing brands and retailers have started to reflect society’s diversity in their advertising recently, reintroducing underweight mannequins back to the high street risks undoing all the great progress we’ve achieved over the last few years.”

This recent round of controversy was reportedly ignited when Zoe Mason, a mother out shopping with her daughters at the retailer, spotted the ultra-thin mannequins and posted a picture of them on social media with a scathing caption. The post has since been shared hundreds of times, garnering the brand a considerable amount of negative media attention.

Topshop has yet to publically comment on the criticism. In response to previous incidences, however, the company has defended its use of mannequins, saying that they aren’t supposed to represent real bodies. However, the company did make a promise to use more realistic-looking mannequins in 2014.

Overall, the incident illustrates how important it is for brands to be cognizant of the size of their mannequins. Failure to do so can alienate customers – and have a negative impact on a brand’s bottom line.

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