Queer Eye Star Tan France Tackles Obesity Stigma with Clothing Line

In November 2025, Tan France, the beloved star of the Netflix series Queer Eye, has teamed up with pharmaceutical company Lilly to launch a unique clothing collection aimed at addressing the stigma surrounding obesity. The "Changing the Thread Collection" was displayed in a pop-up exhibit in New York City last weekend, November 14-15.

France, who has extensive experience working with clients on Queer Eye and in his styling career, has observed a pattern of people using clothing as a means to hide their bodies rather than express themselves. "Getting dressed for so many has become almost a burden," he explains. "I want to really tackle that and make it clear that shouldn't be the case."

The Changing the Thread Collection features plus-sized clothing pieces embroidered with powerful quotes from users of Lilly's weight loss medication Zepbound. These quotes, such as "My jacket covered up things that I wasn't ready for the world to see" and "I bought it looser so I could almost wrap myself in it like a cocoon and hide," reflect the struggles many individuals face with body image and self-esteem.

France's goal is to help people reframe the way they think about obesity and encourage openness and understanding. "So much of what I'm wanting to advocate for with this campaign is to really think about the way we're speaking about obesity, or weight in general, and getting people to understand that this is not a choice and that people living with obesity deserve respect, love and compassion," he says.

By partnering with Lilly and using his platform, France hopes to empower individuals to embrace their bodies and express themselves through fashion, rather than hiding behind oversized or ill-fitting clothes.