Tweet
Busts 4 Justice: Marks and Spencers defends extra tax on bigger bras
Marks & Spencer has been forced to defend its £2 surcharge on bras above a DD cup after a storm of protest from big-busted women.
The firm argues that bigger bras require more specialist work and therefore the cost is justified.
But campaigners against the "tit-tax" say that the pricing is discriminating against the more well-endowed and point out that the other items of clothing, such as T-shirts and trousers, are the same price regardless of size.
One angry customer, Beckie Williams, was moved to set up a group on the social networking site Facebook to persuade others to lobby M&S against the policy.
By Friday afternoon, the site had attracted more than 700 members including some supportive men.
The Busts 4 Justice introduction reads: "Britain boasts of its fairness, and M&S boasts of its absolute Britishness. Busts 4 Justice argue that the price equality that rules our outer-garments should apply to our undergarments too.
"Busty ladies, and anyone else with a vested interest in busty ladies, in fact anyone with a vested interest in simple justice, join forces to end this blatant discrimination."
One member wrote: "M&S has also considerably reduced the range of its larger sized bras and doesn't stock the full range of sizes anyway, so you're lucky if you find your size."
Another enthused: "Equal rights for big boobies! We can't help being blessed!"
The M&S website advertises the Ceriso Polka Dot Padded Bra for £12, rising to £14 for the version for DD to G sizes.
There are similar differences in price for other ranges, though many of the store's more basic designs cost the same, no matter the size.
But M&S said it was virtually the only High Street retailer to offer the same choice of colour, styles and shapes for all customers regardless of their size, as well as a range of bras dedicated to bigger busts.
"The collection has proved incredibly popular with the majority of our customers.
"They have told us they are happy to pay a small premium of between £1.50 and £2 for the specialist work to ensure suitable level of support, innovation and technology that goes into the bras," a spokesman said.
M&S sells around 45 bras a minute in the UK - over 20 million a year - and one in three women one.
Marks & Spencer has been forced to defend its £2 surcharge on bras above a DD cup after a storm of protest from big-busted women.
The firm argues that bigger bras require more specialist work and therefore the cost is justified.
But campaigners against the "tit-tax" say that the pricing is discriminating against the more well-endowed and point out that the other items of clothing, such as T-shirts and trousers, are the same price regardless of size.
One angry customer, Beckie Williams, was moved to set up a group on the social networking site Facebook to persuade others to lobby M&S against the policy.
By Friday afternoon, the site had attracted more than 700 members including some supportive men.
The Busts 4 Justice introduction reads: "Britain boasts of its fairness, and M&S boasts of its absolute Britishness. Busts 4 Justice argue that the price equality that rules our outer-garments should apply to our undergarments too.
"Busty ladies, and anyone else with a vested interest in busty ladies, in fact anyone with a vested interest in simple justice, join forces to end this blatant discrimination."
One member wrote: "M&S has also considerably reduced the range of its larger sized bras and doesn't stock the full range of sizes anyway, so you're lucky if you find your size."
Another enthused: "Equal rights for big boobies! We can't help being blessed!"
The M&S website advertises the Ceriso Polka Dot Padded Bra for £12, rising to £14 for the version for DD to G sizes.
There are similar differences in price for other ranges, though many of the store's more basic designs cost the same, no matter the size.
But M&S said it was virtually the only High Street retailer to offer the same choice of colour, styles and shapes for all customers regardless of their size, as well as a range of bras dedicated to bigger busts.
"The collection has proved incredibly popular with the majority of our customers.
"They have told us they are happy to pay a small premium of between £1.50 and £2 for the specialist work to ensure suitable level of support, innovation and technology that goes into the bras," a spokesman said.
M&S sells around 45 bras a minute in the UK - over 20 million a year - and one in three women one.
Could we have an Apolyton support group for these poor ladies who are being discriminated in such a vile way?
Comment