Nike have won praise from fans after launching a plus size collection. The brand has recently launched a wide range of sportswear and training clothes for women from sizes XL to 3XL, and the news was met with excitement online.

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Explaining their decision to launch a plus size range, the company said in a statement: "Nike recognises that women are stronger, bolder and more outspoken than ever. In today's world, sport is no longer something that she does, it's who she is. The days where we have to add 'female' before 'athlete' are over. She is an athlete, period. And having helped fuel this cultural shift, we celebrate these athletes' diversity, from ethnicity to body shape."

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Nike have launched a plus size collection

The collection includes the fashionable and functional sportswear Nike is known and loved for, including training tights, tops and hoodies. But far from simply recreating their existing designs in a bigger size, the designers have put a lot of research into ensuring all of the pieces fit and work for women of all shapes and sizes. "When we design for plus size, we aren't just proportionately making our products larger. That doesn't work because as we know, everyone's weight distribution is different," Helen Boucher, vice president of women's training apparel said.

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The range is available for women from size XL to 3XL

Nike signed up influencers Grace Victory and Danielle Vanier to front the new campaign, with Danielle telling her Instagram followers she was "beyond proud" to be working with the brand. "Major props to @Nike for working with plus size influencers," she wrote. The announcement was met with excitement from fans of the sportswear label, with one writing: "Nike has a plus size activewear range now #ripmybankaccount." Another tweeted: "Nike going plus size? Wow. Bye to all my jeans." However one wondered why it had taken so long for Nike to expand their range, taking to Twitter to ask: "Instead of praising Nike for bringing out a plus size range of clothes, can we instead ask how it has taken until 2017?"

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