M&S launches ‘more inclusive’ lingerie range amid global equality conversation

Marks & Spencer has launched a “more inclusive” range of lingerie partly inspired by the “global conversation” following the death of George Floyd

The retailer has launched a Nothing Neutral About It campaign offering more colours, sizes and choice within the neutral category, saying it “recognised the need to do more”.

The store said: “With changes already in motion to really redefine inclusive colours within lingerie, last year the team was driven to go harder and faster, fuelled by the global conversation on racial inequality, following the horrific death of George Floyd, as well as clear customer feedback on industry standard colour names such as ‘tobacco’.”

It said the terms “nude” and “neutral” had generally been used for lighter skin tones, and the items on offer at M&S were “inconsistent and inadequate for all ethnicities”.

It is now offering five new shades under a “new neutrals” banner, named Opaline, Rich Amber, Rich Quartz, Rose Quartz and Topaz.

M&S director of lingerie Laura Charles said: “We are the UK market leaders in bras and knickers and with that comes a responsibility to ensure what we sell makes all of our customers feel fantastic.

“We listened when our customers and colleagues told us we hadn’t got it right when it came to colour; both in the choices available and the way we talked about the neutral shades.

“The global conversations around race and equality over the last 12 months spurred us to go faster in creating a better, more inclusive range. From the product offer to the names, to the marketing, we’ve worked hand in hand with our colleague Culture & Heritage network to deliver a campaign we’re proud of and an underwear range that provides more colours, more sizes and more choice so that all of our customers have the freedom to complement or contrast with their individual skin tone in a way that suits their own personal style.”

Former police officer Derek Chauvin 45, was found guilty of the murder and manslaughter of Mr Floyd on May 25 2020, after kneeling on his neck for nine minutes – a killing that sparked anti-racism protests worldwide.