Rixo: ‘We Were The Only Brand At London Fashion Week To Offer Up To Size 24’

After designers showed their spring/summer 2023 collections towards the end of last year, InStyle produced a damning report about the state of size inclusivity – or lack thereof. Surveying the size ranges of every brand on the global fashion week schedule, the report found that 'of the 327 industry-approved designers on the calendar, 9% offer clothing in a size 20 or above.' In worse news, London was the worst city on the list. 'London represents the smallest size range overall, with just 1% of designers offering a size 20 or above and 27% reaching a 14,' read the report. Included in that 1%, however, was Rixo, who debuted its extended sizes which go up to size 24.

Today, the brand unveiled its autumn/winter '23 collection which sees Rixo return to its partywear roots, offering embellished mini dresses and glorious gowns, all inspired by ancient Egypt and the art deco influences of the 1920s. As an independent label, Rixo has seen incredible growth in a relatively short amount of time. How do its founders, Orlagh McCloskey and Henrietta Rix, feel about the fact they were among so few brands actually presenting clothes to fit women of all shapes and sizes?

'We didn’t actually realise at the time that we were the only on-schedule brand to offer up to a size 24, and when we heard this, we were both quite surprised,' McCloskey says. 'We’d been working behind the scenes for a few years to extend our size range – it wasn’t something we wanted to rush and not do properly so we made sure it was right before we released it to our customers.'

Why is it that so many brands are still failing to represent women over a certain size?

'When you extend your size range it’s not simply just adding a few centimetres on here and there, you really need to take the time to fit the pieces on a model and work out where you’re going to add in arm holes, seams, and zips etc. so that the fit is the same throughout the whole size range. Rixo is about making women feel amazing in their clothes and the fit is a huge factor in this. I think there will be a few reasons why it’s taking brands a long time to catch up, but hopefully we see more size inclusive brands on-schedule this season.'

Unsurprisingly, since Rixo introduced more sizes, the response has been overwhelming. 'It's been better than we could have imagined,; says Rix. 'The larger sizes almost always sell out which is great to see. We worked with experts in the extended sizing space to really curate our offering rather than just extending everything to a size 24, as it was important for us to be considered and mindful about what we were putting out there. Since launching we’ve had so much feedback from our customers which has been incredibly helpful, and we are using it to develop and perfect our ranges moving forwards. I’m so proud of our team as the fit right up to a size 24 is incredible.'

The average UK size remains 16, so it's utterly baffling that a majority of brands are still only making clothes for the minority. Luckily, Rixo's playful party dresses, colourful separates and newly-introduced gowns can be enjoyed by women regardless of their size. The point is not for the body to fit the clothes but rather the other way round, as it should be.

A lot of these pieces, says Rix, are for life's 'big moments', when you want to wear something that feels truly special but which doesn't cost a small fortune. McCloskey explains her love of art deco was the starting point for the collection: 'My team and I did lots of research into traditional Egyptian techniques and ways we could recreate them in the Rixo way, resulting in prints in various colours that make up the collection. One to highlight is the traditional technique ‘Assuit’ which we reimagined with foils and burnt-out velvet – it’s my favourite print in the collection. We looked at Egyptian ceramics when experimenting with our embellishments which largely influenced the layout of the beads and the inclusion of little evil-eyes – a symbol of good luck.'

Luck is something Rixo isn't short on. Since launching their label as students together, McCloskey and Rix have seen their designs picked up by everyone from the Princess of Wales to Hailey Bieber. No wonder, then, that styles often sell out quickly and demand is high for specific shapes to be restocked.

'We love seeing women of all ages and all walks of life wear our clothes but seeing celebrities in our designs is a real pinch me moment,' Rix says. 'Some highlights include: Hailey Bieber, Selena Gomez, Madonna, Taylor Swift, Sophia Richie, Julia Roberts, Kylie Minogue and Kris Jenner.'

With Rixo now offering everything from shoes to swimwear, denim to wedding dresses, it seems there's no stopping McCloskey and Rix's success. This year sees the duo open a flagship store on London's Kings Road, which promises 5,000 square feet of all things Rixo. But the founders are keen to reinforce a message of sustainability.

'We recently moved away from selling weekly drops in favour of monthly drops. We wanted to encourage our customer to buy less and wear more... It’s important for us to set an example of not over consuming. RIXO pieces are special purchases.'