Per Una , the women's fashion range which has been a factor in the recovery of UK retailer Marks & Spencer, is to extend its sizes to cater for the larger woman.
Five years after the George Davies-designed range's launch, from September Per Una's winter collection will fit up to UK size 20, expanding on the current range of eight to 18.
Davies said the change was a response to consumer demand. Analysts suggest that rising rates of obesity among UK women are making some "outsize" ranges more mainstream, while Marks & Spencer said the average Per Una customer was a size 14.