Essence USA – August 2019

a result, plus-size influencers

have emerged, launching their

own collections, celebrating and

championing one another and pro-

ducing events that draw

large followings.

According to Coresight, a busi-

ness management research firm,

the plus-size fashion industry

grew by 6 percent in 2016. While

general clothing sales increased

by merely 1.6 percent that year.

And with plus-size fashion account-

ing for only 17.5 percent of

total retail sales, the vast earning

potential of the industry has

barely been tapped.

Social Media Gave Plus-Size

Women a Voice

To truly understand how far

plus-size fashion has come, we

have to look at where the commu-

nity’s presence on social media

began. Social media has given

bigger women a voice to push

back against tired marketing

stereo-types and to challenge

brands and retailers to think

beyond a limited scope. Social

media has allowed us to express

our likes and dislikes directly to

the people who can effect change.

One of the greatest impacts of

this unfettered access has been

the change in how full-figured

women are perceived. The commu-

nity of plus-size women is finally

being recognized for its diversity.

No longer are larger women hiding

their curves or dressing primarily

in dreary “slimming” colors.

Today’s plus-size woman is living

her best life, confidently and

unapologetically.

The various social media

platforms like Instagram, Twitter,

Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and

Snapchat, as well as blogging tools

such as Blogger and Wordpress,

have given plus-size women mul-

tiple outlets to express themselves

and to connect with their tribe.

Liris Crosse, a veteran plus-size

model who wowed Project Runway

viewers as the program’s first full-

figured model in Season 16, agrees:

“Social media has had a huge effect

on the plus-fashion world because

it has held some brands and de-

signers accountable, and that has

caused a customer revolution.”

When the retailer The Limited

discontinued Eloquii, its plus-size

fashion line, back in 2013, the public

outcry from blog posts and other

social media conversations helped

to revive it. “Women are speaking

about what they want from brands

that cater to them and those that

don’t,” Crosse notes. “Brands

are paying attention, which has

led to plus-size fashion taking a

big leap forward.” (^) »
Women are speaking
about what they
want from brands
that cater to them
and those that don’t.
Brands are paying
attention, which has
led to plus-size
fashion taking a big
leap forward.”
—LIRIS CROSSE,
PLUS-SIZE MODEL
FR
OM
LE
FT
:^ O
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DO
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ON
TO
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CO
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IL
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ILB
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.
ESSENCE.COM I 81 I SEPTEMBER 2019