Weighing A Response

Thank you so much for the response to the blog I published last week entitled  "Sizing Up the CFL".  I heard from numerous people in the comments of this blog as well as Twitter and the All Rider Fan page.  I was overwhelmed by the kind an sympathetic words from everyone regarding the sizing issue of all CFL merchandise and marketing.  From the bottom of my heart, I thank you, it honestly means so much to me that I wasn't alone in my thinking and that You even read my blog in the first place!

This particular response from Sue Turner was amazing to me:

THANK YOU 🙏🏻 Sandra!!  You totally rocked my world with that blog post!!!!!
I am not petite or small boned (and please ladies, I am not hating on you if you are!).
I have a helluva time finding any CFL gear to fit properly —- and, yes, I too buy guys or “unisex”, but sometimes even those “one-size-fits-all” means “all-but-me”!  Is it because so much is made off-shore and their models are petite?  I don’t know 🤷‍♀️.
I am glad I’m not the only one with this issue or these feelings!!
Maybe we need to push the envelope and chase the dream of having “real” clothing sizes available in CFL licensed wear!!!

At the urging of my fav Redblacks fan Hippie (@RBeesFan) I emailed Randy Ambrosie Commissioner of the CFL my blog.  I wanted him to know that along with these current promotions of Diversity is Strength and Bring It In that a large number of fans actually aren't included nor can they dress in their favourite teams gear because the sizing and styles do not include them.  I believe he read what I emailed him and likely forwarded my email along to those who are in charge of such things.  I'd like to believe that he and/or people who work in the CFL heard my words.

On February 20th I received an email from Clare Hutchinson Assistant Communications.

Hi Sandra;

Thank you for contacting the CFL! We appreciate you taking the time to write to us with your concerns and suggestions.

We’re currently in the middle of updating our retail model (as well as CFLShop.ca), so we very much appreciate this feedback. Often current order trends limit the items and sizes we can offer, but we agree that that can’t be an excuse and that we should always be doing our best to serve ALL our fans. Every fan of every team deserves to have stylish, comfortable clothes to wear their pride on their sleeve (if you’ll excuse the pun), and although we’re not currently there yet, we’re working hard behind the scenes to ensure we have great apparel available and accessible for all.

Thanks for being a fan, and I hope you’re as excited for the upcoming season as we are.

Best,

-c

While lot's of this reads to me and others a little like "fluff" it also says a few things to me.  They are updating their retail model.  They've recognized a problem of some kind and realized what they're doing isn't very successful. Does that include clothing? Who knows.  "Current order trends" means to me (because I have 5 years of retail experience under my belt) that their suppliers can only provide a limited amount of styles in the sizing we desire - which face it, is nothing for any of us who shop at plus size retailers like Pennington's, Addition-Elle or Torrid.  "That can't be an excuse." <-- They're hearing us with our complaints and lack of sales dollars coming in but while they might hear us there's likely little they can do or are willing to do about it.  It's a mixed message isn't it.

Before we pick up our torches and march to the closest Rider Store in protest, I can't help but think at least that response is something.  They could have just passed the buck.  They could have not put any thought or time into a response at all.  They could have easily mumbled something about crazed lunatic Rider fans and hit the delete button. 

I am one fan who is very over trying to fit clothes that don't feel good or look good. Until it changes I won't be spending my hard earned piano teaching money on more merchandise.  Let's face it...I, like a lot of other Rider fans, can dress in green for a week and never run out of clothing. When the Rider Store and other CFL stores get in the sizes and styles that include everyone I'll spend my money there again.  Sooner or later they will be forced to provide the clothing All of us can love.

I posted a very informal poll on Twitter to find out who in CFL households buys the merchandise. If the fan was single I asked them to choose the male/female equivalent.  46% of those who responded are women who do the purchasing. Interesting, right?  Women hold the power in this situation and we can help effect a change.

I'm not willing to give up on this subject.  I hope you aren't either.

Sizing Up the CFL

Hubby was getting his hair cut so I thought I'd pop in to the Rider store and take a look around. I always go to the men's side. I buy men's tee shirts and tank tops and even sometimes shorts.  I browse through the ladies but never spend very much time in that section. I'd love nothing more than to buy a ladies tee shirt with some glitter or feminine design but the fact is they just don't fit.  I've been there and I've done that. Some of the woman's shirts go to a 3X but they really aren't designed for the voluptuous wing eating female football fan in mind.  This is a HUGE flaw in the CFL marketing scheme.

I've been known to place orders online to a store called Torrid. You may have even seen ads in the sidebar for them.  They specialize in sizes 10 to 30...00 to 6X.  Totally by accident I discovered they have NFL licensed tee shirts --> NFL Plus Size  While they don't always have every team in stock, they are a plus size retailer who carry football wear in sizes that a regular woman can wear without feeling bad about how she looks and feels while cheering on her team.

Imagine that.

Roughrider mens jerseys go to a size 4X and I'd presume that's because they require sizes to fit lineman on the team. Ladies jerseys go to a 2X but don't let that deceive you. If you are a frequent shopper at plus size retailers across Canada this 2X will not fit you.  The ladies jersey costs $99.99 and the mens costs $119.99. If you are a true plus sizes woman you need to spend $20 more to buy a mens jersey that will actually fit.  I use the word "fit" loosely because while the size is correct the fit is actually too long in the body and sleeves.  There are indeed many female football players, how would a female who is a lineman fit one of these jerseys? They wouldn't and yes I know women also don't play in the CFL. I am merely making a comparison to show how the sizing is outdated as well as the pricing unrealistic.

If you aren't the roundish shape that I am this sizing issue could still affect you. Let's say you go to the gym regularly and regularly take care of yourself. You wear a medium or large in your favourite stores. It's entirely possible you will require an XL in a CFL store.  What does that do to your ego? What does that say to anyone struggling with body image?  It's not good.  Not good at all.  Several years ago before my thyroid issues began I was a ladies XL and guess what? The youth XL was the exact same size as the ladies XL.  Yes, the YOUTH!

Now let's talk textiles. I have a couple very comfortable men's tee shirts. The fabric is soft and while the crew neck structure is boxy I feel good when I wear them. A ladies tee shirt is usually a V-neck and the fabric can be transparent while also containing spandex which also makes it clingy and hot. Imagine sitting in the hot July sun at Mosaic Stadium in something like that.  I'd choose the men's version every single time but I shouldn't have to.  I'd choose it for another reason too - they can be tossed in the washer and dryer with little fear of shrinkage while the majority of women's clothing needs to be hung to dry or it will never fit the same again.

We tell ourselves things like "the size on the tag doesn't define me" but guess what...having to buy a size two sizes larger sure doesn't help how you feel about yourself either.  Having to wear a tank top under your shirt or a bunnyhug over top defeats the purpose of wearing your teams colours altogether.  Where is the standard in sizing? Why doesn't the CFL seek out a manufacturer with standard sizing? Why don't they partner with a plus size retailer so that EVERY fan can dress in their teams gear?

I've purchased Roughrider clothing at Walmart and Giant Tiger that fits better, is more comfortable and is a better fabric than that from a Rider Store. I really don't like doing that because whenever a fan makes a purchase at a team store that team gets 100% of the proceeds whereas when we buy things in other stores that money gets shared with the CFL first and then the team. When I help the economy in the Rider Store I also gain Rider Rewards for being a Season Ticket Holder. I would much prefer to be able to shop in the Rider Store for all my Rider needs!

Diversity is Strength.  Every fan in the CFL is a cheerleader but the majority doesn't wear the same size as one.  Every fan, male or female, young or senior deserve to be able to dress for a football game or just casual Friday in something they love.