Thread by @SuzanneSiemens

Dear CEO of a period underwear brand,

We saw the order that your R&D department placed for @period_aisle Brief underwear in the entire available size range. We know this because “R&D” was the name on the credit card. We’re Canadian. Not naive. Hence this polite note.

Looking at the order, we see you read @Allure_magazine's story about the special efforts @period_aisle took to be size inclusive. As a proud B Corp, we believe all bodies deserve products that fit and feel great. The work was worth it, because plus size customers deserve better.

And, I know it’s common practice for competitor brands to purchase from one other because they are curious to see what others are up to: we do it too!

However, ordering an entire size range tells us you have plans to rip off all the hard work that our tiny boot-strapped team put into our sizing.

You have the funding. Do the work on your own dime. You don't have to take the same kinds of financial risks we've taken in order to make it happen.

Normally, I’m a pretty quiet person. If 2020 has taught me anything, it’s important to use our voice to stand up for what is right. So, I’m standing up for the @period_aisle team by saying it’s not OK to take the easy road and copy their hard work.

Our production team, the pattern makers and our fit models deserve recognition for the time they took to listen and respond to customer needs. Making size inclusive products means listening to plus size folks. They’ve been shut out of the convo for too long.

Don’t just copy our stuff. Engage with fat folks. And if you don’t want to do that, ask yourself why.

I’d like to suggest you take the money you would have spent on that purchase and pay some plus size folks for their time and labour. It’s the right thing to do, and shows your willingness to have an authentic relationship with your customer.

I hope and believe that all brands of period underwear can co-exist on friendly terms and excel in their own unique ways. I look forward to seeing more brands follow our lead and invest the time to become more size inclusive.

See you in the period Aisle,
Suzanne Siemens
CEO