C H A N G I N G T H E N A R R A T I V E

Thin models have been the female beauty standard worldwide for centuries. – thinness was always associated with beauty and although mindsets have changed towards this, many people still associate being thin with being beautiful and model material. This practice of having thin models sent an unhealthy message to young people, and in some cases triggered mental health struggles with depression and eating disorders. (Walker).

“I sometimes think about how different the plus-size fashion industry (and therefore the plus-size shopping experience) would be today if it had been decided more than a hundred years ago to put standard and plus-sizes on the same shelf.” Rather than creating separate plussize capsule collections, I would therefore like to see mainstream brands expand their product lines so that standard and plus-size women can shop on the same rack. Only when this happens do I think we can say that the fashion industry is truly inclusive.” (Garel, 2020).

In the made-to-order space, plus-size shoppers don’t have to take it or leave it. Suddenly faced with an abundance of options, they can decide what hems they want and what sleevelengths work best for their bodies. It’s freeing, and it’s also far more practical than placing an order and hoping for the best. When a piece is crafted to your exact measurements, you can pretty much count on it actually fitting when it arrives.

“Made-to-order companies without size limits are the only brands that can call themselves size-inclusive — and actually live up to it.” (Huber, 2021).

While resale marketplaces, from Depop to Vestiaire, are booming in popularity and sales, plus-size customers are getting left out. This lack of size-inclusive preloved clothing pushes many to continue to rely on fast fashion brands, often leaving them to face criticism for opting out of the more environmentally-conscious shopping method. She says that while plus-size clothing has always existed, it’s still a challenge for them to source size-inclusive vintage garments. “Because those clothes were not valued and plussize people were told to not wear certain things, there’s almost a gap in the history of vintage fashion. (Sola-Santiago, 2022).