Criticise that group of people about variable tights (9)

I believe the answer is:

pantyhose

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'tights' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'criticise that group of people about variable' is the wordplay.
'criticise' becomes 'pan' (informal term meaning to criticise heavily).
'that group of people' becomes 'those' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'variable' becomes 'y' (algebra).
'those' going around 'y' is 'tyhose'.
'pan'+'tyhose'='PANTYHOSE'

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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