Representatives from the British fashion industry have voiced support for a campaign to use larger mannequins as part of the fight against eating disorders.
Debenhams said it backed the call to try and give a more realistic reflection of their customers than the usual size 8 or 10 shop dummies.
Company director Ed Watson said: “We will be looking to increase the number of size 16 mannequins in Oxford Street in London and to start rolling them out to all 170 UK stores.”
Mal Burkinshaw, director of fashion at Edinburgh College of Art, said it was working on a project with retailer H&M on size diversity.
Isla Rafferty, managing director of Super Model Management in Glasgow, said: “I truly believe larger mannequins on the high-street is a positive step in showing women that it is OK to be their natural size.
Aberdeenshire West SNP MSP Dennis Robertson is leading the campaign in the Scottish Parliament to try and tackle eating disorders and change common practice in the fashion industry.
The politician, whose 18-year-old daughter Caroline died in 2011 after a five-year battle with anorexia, said: “I am greatly encouraged by the level of support my campaign but this is only the start.
“The next step I hope is for the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) to give a clear message of support.
“I want them to issue their members with guidelines and advice on having a range of model sizes.”
Ultra-thin models did not help self-esteem.