An Australian mum has taken aim at Kmart, BIG W and Target over sizing in their school clothing ranges.
The mother said she was frustrated that the major retailers’ school uniforms — which are priced from just $2.50 a piece — only go up to a size 16.
In her Facebook post, she pointed out that many kids are at school until the age of 18 — while other Facebook users argued that even younger teens needed larger sizes.
For more Lifestyle related news and videos check out Lifestyle >>
“Why do school uniforms at Kmart Australia, BIG W and Target Australia only go up to size 16?” she wrote.
“Do they not realise that kids are at school until they are 17/18 and need sizes bigger than a boys/girls size 16?”
The mum went on to say that the limited sizing meant that parents were being forced to buy larger sizes for their children from other outlets — and pay top dollar in the process.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do next year. I can’t afford to buy everything from the uniform shop,” she said.
She added: “Not one piece of (her son’s) uniform is under $30 and when you need multiples of each item, it adds up quickly. I priced it out last year, and we’re looking at almost $1,000!”
Other parents agreed that the lack of larger sizes at Kmart, Target and BIG W put parents in a financial pinch.
“I was only just wondering about what I do when (my son) grows out of the 16s — he is already in a 16 in top,” one said. “(His) logo shirts are like $45 each! Break the bank.”
Another added: “I hear you all right. (My daughter is) into girls’ 14 as getting tall — and she’s only going into Year 6!”
A third wrote: “I don’t understand … especially for boys when they hit their major growth spurt in high school and don’t stop until 19 to 21!”
One more said: “I hear you. I’m now struggling to find shorts for my son, BIG W and Kmart are such small makes.”
But others argued that the major retailers were in a tricky predicament given that larger sizes moved into the adult ranges.
“Kids sizes only go up to size 16, then it’s adult sizes,” one said. “But it’d be too difficult for the shops to make school uniforms in ‘adult’ sizes!”
7NEWS.com.au has reached out to Kmart, Target and BIG W for comment.
