Old Navy criticized for higher cost of women’s plus-size jeans

New York -- Apetition to get Old Navy to stop charging more for women's plus-size jeans has gathered more than 36,000 signatures online, Bloomberg reports.



The petition accuses Gap’s Old Navy of being sexist, since a pair of women's plus-size jeans can cost about $15 more than regular jeans, while a pair of men's jeans costs the same no matter the size. Customers are also calling for Old Navy to put the larger apparel into stores, instead of just selling it online, according to the report.



Old Navy answered the accusations by saying that the price difference is a question of craftsmanship. The items are specifically designed and manufactured for plus-size women and cost more to make, Debbie Felix, an Old Navy spokeswoman, said in an e-mail to Bloomberg. The company has a separate team of designers and merchants working on its plus-size products to adjust them for fit and style. Men's jeans don't typically get that kind of treatment, she said.