The fashion possibilities have changed over the past few years, but the market's enormous potential has only recently come to light.
Thick. Curvy. Real.
Regardless of the label placed on one's body or curves, the plus-size woman and their fashion options have advanced significantly, especially during the past ten years. You would assume that fashionable options would be plenty, given that statistics reveal that the average lady wears a size 16 to 18. But despite the estimated $30 billion market opportunity, plus-size women are only just beginning to get some love from the fashion industry.
Plus-size customers have historically had their demands overlooked by mainstream fashion brands. Plus-size influencers have therefore developed, creating their own clothing collections, praising and supporting one another, and organizing events with sizable fan bases.
The Role Of Social Media In Giving Plus-Size Women Their Voice
We need to examine how the plus-size community first appeared on social media to appreciate how far the industry has come. Those women now have a voice on social media and question outdated marketing stereotypes and constrictive thinking on the part of brands. Through social media, they are able to communicate their preferences to those who can bring a change, AKA our amazing influencers.
The perception of plus-sized women has changed, which has been one of the biggest effects of this unrestricted access. And the diversity of the plus-size population is being acknowledged. Plus-size women no longer feel the need to cover up their curves or dress almost exclusively in a drab and slimming range of colors.
Instead, the modern plus-size women are living their best life with assurance and unreservedness.
A Revolution Is Cooking In The Plus-Size Fashion Industry
The different blogging platforms, as well as the various social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and Pinterest, have provided plus-size women a variety of ways to express themselves and find their community. Women are talking about the brands that cater to them and those that don't and what they want from both. And brands are taking notice, which has caused plus-size fashion to advance significantly.
Being a passionate supporter of the plus-size fashion sector, Closetstuffed.com finds it wonderful to witness the tremendous brand growth brought about by collaborations between big brands and established and independent designers.
Furthermore, given the growth of plus-size fashion, it is no surprise that women of color have advocated for more variety. African-Americans and Latinas spend $1.3 trillion yearly, according to a study. It could seem as if the change will be simple to implement when these two factors are combined with the fact that Black consumers have used social media to build a voice that marketers and decision-makers are taking notice of. Curvy Black fashionistas still have struggled with inclusion in the fashion world. As a result, lots of people are starting their own brands.
The Plus-Size Fashion Industry Is Bearing A Significant Change
Women of color are among the change-makers in the plus-size fashion industry, but they are not evenly portrayed in the media. This holds true for both business professionals and fashion influencers. Even when you browse the most recent mainstream plus-size news, from brand advertisements to models, coverage of what happens in the plus-size fashion industry is typically one-note. Women of color and larger sizes still need to be more represented in the plus market.
This discussion would not be happening today if plus-size women waited for mainstream fashion to give them what they wanted. Many seasoned plus-size bloggers and content creators used social media platforms to expand their own empires. They believe that the mainstream fashion industry still has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to releasing stylish, size-inclusive collections, but plus-size women have shown that we are not content to wait.
Independent Plus-Size Fashion Designers Are Leading the Way
The role of independent plus-size designers, who don't hesitate to innovate and push their collections to the limit, is maybe the most intriguing recent trend. While we have many options thanks to significant fashion companies and retailers like H&M and Zara, plus-size collections frequently lack high-fashion and statement pieces. This is where independent designers have stepped in to fill the gap.
The industry used to fall short in providing collections with better productions and couture elements displayed with sophisticated and high-level creative direction. However, this is no longer the case, especially given the current state of the fashion industry, which has enabled more of them to pursue entrepreneurship. As plus-size fashion becomes as diversified and segmented as mainstream fashion lines, some of the most innovative work is being done in this era.
The plus-size fashion industry is ultimately all about choices and accessibility. Technology and social media are continuously allowing more innovators to enter the market as both classic and newer brands interact with the plus-size consumer.
So, where does it leave us, then? As with any evolution, failure to adapt will result in exclusion. Finally, fashion industry leaders realize that the plus-size community deserves more than what has previously been provided.
The obligation is on the retailers in a $21 billion market where sales potential hasn't been fully realized. However, traditional brands still do not fully understand the demands and preferences of the plus-size population, despite brand launches and new collaborations. Because of this, business owners will continue to develop their own plus-size resources, taking advantage of the enormous untapped market through independent apparel lines. However, we still have a sizable gap to close when you break down the population and demographic figures and compare them to the current market size in dollars.
