Oh, Polly! Fashion Brand Apologizes for ‘Segregating’ Plus-Size and Black and Brown Models

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Fashion brand Oh Polly is saying “So sorry” after it was forced to issue apologies when social media users pointed out its placement of plus-size and black and brown models on an Instagram account separate from that of its “main” line.

As the BBC reports, folks on social media called out the brand, with people like YouTube star and makeup artist Alissa Ashley likening Oh Polly’s move to “segregation.”

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Oh Polly initially tried to justify its actions, saying its separate “Oh Polly Inclusive” account was “celebrating a wider range of people in our community,” according to the BBC.

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But the company has since taken down the account and issued an apology, telling BuzzFeed: “Oh Polly made a serious error of judgment for which we take full responsibility and sincerely apologize.”

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As BuzzFeed explains, the “Inclusive” page, which had been up since March, “featured a mixture of plus-sized customers and influencers as well as women from a range of different ethnic backgrounds — a break from the aesthetic of Oh Polly’s official verified page, which predominantly features white, slim models.”

But the irony of having a separate account called “Inclusive” was hardly lost on Oh Polly’s critics:

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Since taking down the account, Oh Polly says it plans to learn from its “mistake,” telling BuzzFeed:

“We have a close relationship with our customers around the world and always value their feedback. Improving diversity remains an absolute priority for us across all of our channels. We promise to continue listening to everyone in the Oh Polly community and, most importantly, learn from this mistake.”