The plus-size industry is on the verge of a revolution
Changing attitudes toward body-positivity mean more hip and fashion-forward options are becoming available for plus-sized women
Plus-size retail is rapidly evolving.
The industry, which has been previously touted as worth roughly US$17.5 billion according to the NPD Group, has long been comprised of a group of women that feels largely ostracized.
But even amid a burgeoning body positivity movement, few retailers are actually offering plus-size clothing that is considered trendy and fashion-forward.
Lane Bryant — long thought of as a dowdy, matronly apparel retailer — is now trying to change that, and they might be on to something.
On Monday, Lane Bryant hosted a runway show to show off its latest collection — a collaboration with designer Christian Siriano. (The collection has already been available in stores, giving Lane Bryant a Zara-like feel — what customers see on the runway, they can buy immediately.) At the show, top models and huge players in the body-positivity movement, such as models Ashley Graham and Candice Huffine, turned heads.
The runway show also featured notable curvy bloggers, like Nicolette Mason, cementing the importance and power of bloggers to the plus-size movement. (Mason also helped contribute to Target's plus size line, Ava & Viv.)