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December 10th, 2008

For years, the nation’s women have been asking their partners the proverbial question, do I look fat in this? But now it seems the tables may well be turning. Indeed, latest research from Mintel finds that sales of plus sized men’s clothing have increased by a massive 40% over the past five years alone, compared to just 11% growth in the menswear market as a whole. Today, the market for men’s clothes sized XL or larger is worth £1.7 billion, up from just £1.2 billion in 2003. Meanwhile, although the market for women’s plus sized clothing (size 18 and above) is worth twice that for men at £3.8 billion, it has seen just 26% growth over the same five year period.