The economics of thigh gap
The need for long lasting and comfortable fabrics for the bottom wear explained.
My mom has it. I have it. Many of my human friends and relatives have it. We are a tribe of big hips and thighs. The thigh gap is elusive to us even if we lose sufficient weight or tone our inner thigh muscles. It is there to stay, and I have made peace with it.
These thighs of mine provide support and are the strongest pillars of my physical body. There’s a missing gap. Chub rub, thigh rub, and inner thigh chafing are some of the terms for a condition that regularly plagues the bountiful thighs. It causes discomfort and is a site for sore thighs.
Talcum powder, deodorant stick, coconut oil, etc., are some remedies deployed before and after the chafing episode. My mom ditched teeny weeny panties and went in for bicycle shorts to end her agony. And it worked like a charm. Guess the downside? The brunt of rubbing got borne by the part where the thighs touched. It meant replacing the shorts at alarmingly regular intervals. The fabric gave up in 2-3 wears.
Denim pants, shorts, salwars or any bottom wear I buy goes kaput in a few wears. I am sure fashion labels are in the dark that size 10 has thighs and that they stick together.
I got some respite from fabrics that have lycra. The denim brands that have borne the rub heroically are Levis and Guess. If I want to wear linen or 100% cotton, I have to ration the number of times I have to wear them. Of course, skirts have to have bicycle shorts. My body rejects sexy panties. Short shorts? The thigh says no.
Replacing bottom wear frequently costs money and lots of it. I have to give away or throw perfectly fine bottom wear only because it has a hole in one spot. It is a spot that fashion labels and textile manufacturers have missed because they don’t know about it. Nobody talks about the hole in the pant. The thigh gap is coveted. Clothing manufacturers are in denial; we are in denial.
Thighs chafing is never mentioned in a conversation. It is borne silently like a crown of shame.
We ought to demand better bottom wear and hold fashion labels accountable. Ask for long-lasting bottom wear with better fabric and comfort. Talk about the chafe. There is no shame in having thighs. The problem is of chafing and the clothing manufacturers should be able to address and solve the issue without bankrupting us.
In case you are wondering about the size of the bottom wear segment?
Women's bottom wear business is expected to grow from Rs 13,500 crore in FY20 to Rs 24,300 crore by FY25