Spain becomes size conscious

Spain’s government has reached an agreement with major fashion designers to standardize women’s clothing sizes with the aim of promoting a healthier image.

Designers such as Cortefiel, Mango, El Corte Ingles and Inditex agreed to take part in the program, which was announced this week.

The program, designed by the Health Ministry, will also prevent those companies from using window displays featuring clothes smaller than a European size 38 (8 in the United States). They will have five years to phase in the change.

“It is not reasonable for a modern and advanced society to establish stereotypes of beauty that are far removed from the social reality of a community. It is everyone’s commitment that beauty and health go hand in hand,” Health Minister Elena Salgado said.

The agreement follows last year’s unprecedented decision by Spain’s main fashion show, Madrid’s Pasarela Cibeles, to ban some models from the catwalk on grounds they were too thin, saying this look encouraged eating disorders among young people.