Customers have slammed Australian fashion brand Witchery over its new collection, which appears to have morphed its standard size 20 clothing into a size 18.

Witchery launched its Bold Awakening collection on Tuesday, calling it a “new look” for the brand.

But customers are scathing of the lack of a size 20, which had been included in former collections.

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“So you’ve ditched the size 20,” one noted. “It’s not a bold awakening if you cannot do the bare minimum for size inclusivity.”

“Read the room Witchery,” another customer said. “It’s 2024, you should be expanding sizing, not reducing it.”

In its announcement of the collection, Witchery said its sizing had been revised and had “become more generous”.

“If you were a size 20 with Witchery before, we welcome you to try an 18 instead,” the brand said.

The brand doubled down on this sentiment in a statement released following the online backlash.

“Size inclusivity is important for us, and we’re proud to be one of the few high street fashion brands in our category to offer such a wide range of sizes in our main range,” the statement said.

Size 20 had been removed from the collection because it accounted for a small percentage of sales, it said.

The brand said customer feedback had revealed inconsistencies in sizing between Witchery styles.

“In response, we embarked on an extensive project to improve the accuracy and consistency of our sizes and fits across our whole collection,” the brand’s statement said.

“Our updated design direction means that sizes from 10 and up are now a more relaxed fit, with the new size 18 fitting closely to the previous size 20.

“While size 20 is currently unavailable, we’re committed to learning from and listening to our customers as we refine our sizing.

“We welcome our customers to come in-store to experience the new collection and try on the new fits.”

‘Size isn’t a trend’

Customers have not accepted the explanation, with many saying the brand was “gaslighting” them.

“Who is going to tell Witchery that size isn’t a trend,” one customer said.

“Equally irritated and annoyed by the gaslighting of customers here by dropping a size and then telling the customers who are that size to try a size smaller.”

Another customer said the collection and size reduction was a “big miss”.

“Whether or not your size 18 will fit size 20 is not the issue, but the lack of understanding that it will be an issue to the perception of the brand,” they said.

“Meanwhile your racks will stocked with size 4-8 as per usual, as you can move these sizes.”

However, some defended Witchery’s decision to reduce the size range.

“Running a business in these economic times is difficult enough with the constant negativity,” one commented.

“If you don’t like their range, there are many other places to shop,” another said.