rev:text
| - Before Artizia, my choices included boys' track pants with drawstrings since I couldn't afford the smaller sizes that higher-end joints carried. It's a good thing I was still a student then, but not very helpful for work clothing. I also learned, as many others in my situation, the days that new stock came to more affordable stores carrying one or two items in my size.
I used to really enjoy Aritzia, back in early 2000 when there was only one or two stores. I even thought their house brand, TnA, was good for sweats - good cuts for lil' bums.
Most importantly though, Artizia sold smaller, proportionate sizes of casual to dressy jeans, pants, and tops. They fulfilled a tricky niche in women's clothing. These women were stuck at the fitting border between 'petite' for women and pre-teen for girls, and also required an adult regular-to-tall inseam. Aritizia knows fit for these femmes!
Whether it was the sizes or the actual apparel, I'm not sure, but the appeal of Artizia spread in every direction. In response: new stores and new shoppers.
I'm glad that Artizia continues to service the smaller-size niche market, but now it's not surprising to see mother-daughter duos rocking the same 'TnA' black stretch pants, at the same time. Matching can be cute when your daughter is under 3 years old. It's down right ugly when you hear mothers squabble and compare their waist size to their preteen's. Sometimes hemming, sometimes squishing for the fashion. It's bad enough that sizes are hard to come by, but when every female shops at your store, it's enough to make me go back to the boys' section.
I haven't given up on Aritzia just yet... for now, I'm still carefully mixing up Artizia gears with vintage stuff that somehow ran in smaller sizes that many stores just haven't picked up yet. It's a forced loyalty that I wish others would give up. :(
Until then, I'll play the Canadian card (Aritzia started in Vancouver and only recently opened a couple of stores in the U.S.). Let's hope it stays that way and not get sold like lululemon did...
|