Supersize me, say uniform buyers

DEMAND for supersize work uniforms is soaring, according to one Manchester firm, which it says reflects the growing rate of obesity in the UK.

Online supplier Clothes2Order says orders for sizes ranging from 50 inches (XXL) to 63 inches – known as XXXXXXL or 6XL – have risen in the last five years and now account for 7% of all sales, up from 5.6%.

The company’s range of shirts, hoodies and polo shirts previously went up to a 59-inch chest but this has been increased to 63.

Five years ago, the company had just 900 orders that contained supersize items, but the figure has risen to 7,500 in the past 12 months, although this also reflects the overall growth of the business.

Managing director Michael Conway said: “In 2008 the biggest uniforms we supplied came in 5XL, or 59in, but we have had to increase that to 6XL. As a business, we have had to make sure we source and offer more items in 2XL and above than ever before, to cater for the growing demand. The sales increase in that category has easily outstripped growth in all other categories over the past five years.

“We often do embroidered polo shirts all the way up to a 63in chest these days. Orders in that size are increasingly common. It is not a feature of any one sector in particular, but across the board.”

Clothes2Order is part of Quayside Group, whose revenues have jumped from £1.8m in 2008 to £4.2m last year. Quayside is owned by Mr Conway.

According to the latest statistics from the Health and Social Care Information Centre, 24% of men and 26% of women in England are classed as obese, meaning they have a body mass index of 30 or above. The figures have risen since 1993 from 13% and 16% respectively.