Opened in 1970 by Silvio Marsan, Brandy Melville, the one-size-only clothing store, has become an international staple for an abundance of teenage girls’ closets. However, with the new HBO Max documentary Brandy Hellville, the store is receiving backlash for its hidden secrets.
The documentary shines a light on the inappropriate behaviors of the company and brand. Some employees of the company talked about how the interview and hiring process was done through FaceTime with nothing but their social media handles used as their resume.
One employee in the documentary talked about how she felt uncomfortable because she was asked to submit a picture of her outfit everyday. These photos would then be posted on social media and used as inspiration for new clothing ideas since the company designers needed to know what young ladies were wearing to continue to appeal to their audience.
Another Brandy Melville employee explained that when she submitted a picture of her outfit with an original design, designers from Brandy asked her where the pants were from. She explained that she made the pants herself and sold them on her Etsy page. A few weeks later, she noticed that the same pants she made were being sold in stores without her permission.
The Brandy Melville store closest to Hamilton is located at the Grove and many young ladies, including myself, often visit the shopping center specifically to visit the shop. Right next to their store, they have their own pizza restaurant named Chill since ‘93. This convenient placement allows parents of the younger girls who are shopping to grab a quick bite while their children browse and later join them for some food. This is rather ironic since the company is known for their extremely small, inclusive sizing, yet they have a whole restaurant right next to their shop.
As I have gotten older, I have realized more problems with the company. As previously mentioned, the store only carries one size which falls under a XS-S, promoting the exclusivity of the brand. Their social media pages only enhance this idea that only a certain type of girl can wear their clothing, as posts are mostly white and skinny women. Brandy Melville is essentially teaching young ladies that they have to have a certain type of body and look to fit their clothes properly.
While it may be extremely tempting to follow the trendy image that Brandy Melville upholds, it’s equally important to remember the company’s questionable ethics and practices that you are supporting when you purchase their products. There are plenty of other sustainable and ethical options available, and it’s worth the time to do more research to find something unique that fits specifically you, not one that “fits all.”
