Plus Size Movement..Are We Putting The Cart Before The Horse?

Hello Curvy Dolls!

I was in a meeting this morning that made me totally cringe about this industry we are in! This particular company believes that the model sells the clothes. I TOTALLY DISAGREE! I am a designer therefore I design what I feel plus size women want, need and are lacking.  As I have told several buyers over the past few months please don't expect a show of polyester dresses and suits, that is not my brand but you have plenty of others to choose from. I'm in the mindset to create that which cannot be found for me and those like me. I don't care how fabulous the model or how beautiful her smile..if the designs do not stand on there own she is just another pretty face in regular dress. I see so many articles about plus size models and how important they are...this is true, but what about the DESIGNERS!! This industry needs plus size designers that are willing to push the boundary of fashion for our sizes. Actually design collections that speak to the women we are and aspire to be. Designers that are actually concerned about fit and proportion and not just at the fabric store picking out cheap fabrics and making fitted wash and throw away dresses. As I told the CEO of this company this morning..without DESIGNERS models are just naked women in pictures and I will spend my companies budget on imported fabric and tailored design before I pay thousands to some super model. Example of this the two beautiful Vogue Italia covers. I would have loved to see those women in couture fashion or even high fashion but right now it just does not exist. This industry is too focused on fitting in when we were born to STAND OUT! Yes I would love Marc Jacobs to design in my size and to see beautiful plus size woman in his runway show, however he apparently does not share my opinion nor do his colleagues. So this message is to the entire plus size community..stop waiting on mainstream to except you and make your own mainstream. I am challenging myself in the coming year to be a better designer and create what I feel this industry is lacking. It would be great if mainstream designers wake up but please don't count on it. If they don't want our money, why are we trying so hard to give it to them? As I said in my morning meeting..true designs will jump off a page with no model needed. I am constantly told I put the cart before the horse but in which I then respond, I ride in a Chariot that is custom made and has to be preordered with a Clydesdale so this is true! But the plus size movement may need to slow down our cart and refocus our direction or we could always just go naked! hahaha : )

KCJ