Nike says it wants to prove that its sports clothing is not only for slimmer customers

With their tiny waists and thigh gaps, fashion store mannequins are only useful if you want to know what a sports bra or pair of leggings would look like on a stick insect.

Nike’s leading store in London has introduced plus-size mannequins on its women’s floor and will also feature some based on para-sport athletes to “celebrate the diversity and inclusivity of sport”.

Debenhams introduced size 16 mannequins in 2013.

The revamped floor at Nike Town on Oxford Street opened on Wednesday and has a larger range of plus-sized clothing as well as the kits that will be worn by teams at the Women’s World Cup, which kicks off today.

The company said: “To celebrate the diversity and inclusivity of sport, the space will not