It has been a big year for plus-size fashion, with many memorable highs. According to stats from Coresight Research, the U.S. women’s plus-size clothing market will be worth $30.7 billion in 2019, growing around 4% to reach approximately $31.9 billion in 2020. In this year, we saw plus-size influencers and media celebrating and championing one another online and offline, and sparking discussion on what was missing from the plus-size fashion industry. Designers and brands were listening, trying to implement changes to their already existing lines or launch/create more size-inclusive clothing brands that babes across the world could feel good in. 

Here are some of my favourite launches and glow-ups in the plus-size clothing industry of 2019.

Part and Parcel

This plus-size brand launched in the summer of 2019. Its mission? Offer size-inclusive clothing (sizes 0x-6x) and shoes at affordable prices. As you can imagine, it was a hit. The brand also introduced dimensional sizing, which meant that customers were given a choice between fit options. Recently, Part and Parcel did something even more revolutionary – it launched its own modelling agency. We can’t wait to see them take over in 2020.

Soncy

This summer I kept hearing another brand new plus size clothing line on plus-size Instagram, Soncy. The online retailer has fashionable pieces that give me ASOS or BooHoo vibes. But the best part? They were committed to releasing affordable pieces for women sizes 10-30, and actually showcased models of all sizes on their website. Can I get an Amen!

Henning

In August, Lauren Chan launched Henning, a high-end plus-size line that’s on the cutting edge of style. Her line is meant to be a call to action to the rest of the fashion industry, that plus-size women want luxury clothes. The line debuted at New York Fashion Week and is available in sizes 12 to 24, and produced and made exclusively in New York.

Anthropologie

Last February, long-time fans of Anthropologie were excited to find out that the brand was finally expanding its line into plus sizes, with a new collection titled A+nthropologie. The line, which came in 16-26, was only released at one physical location in Canada at CF Shops at Don Mills and available online. The line was been consistently fashionable, colorful and trendy. One of the things we have appreciated about the Anthropologie launch into plus is how it didn’t change its vision for plus customers. Let’s hope the line will expand into more physical locations in Canada for the new year.

URTUMUCH

For those in the plus-size community, you may know the name Jen Wilder. Not only is she the co-owner of The Plus Bus, a plus-size boutique in Los Angeles, but she is the brainchild behind URTUMUCH which launched in 2019. The line consists of caftans and lots of bold prints and sequins. Wilder has described the line as “timeless, unique and creative,” which we agree. Oh, and Lizzo is a fan. Wilder had the opportunity to design the cloud leotards for her backup dancers during the infamous VMA performance.

Hilary MacMillan

This past September, Canadian fashion designer Hilary MacMillan announced that she was planning to launch her Spring/Summer 2020 season in select pieces into a 4X, or a size 28. The collection was beautiful and fashion-forward, including oversized blazers, dresses, skirts, and jackets. The pricing of the collection ranged from $150-300, and is currently in production.

Tamara Malas

It wasn’t until late 2018 that I really learned about Tamara Malas, so I am including this in the 2019 launches category. This high-end fashion-forward brand, in sizes 14-32, offers luxury pieces with a point of view. Her designs are made for those who are playful and fashion-forward, and since I came across it, I have been obsessed. I need everything on my body immediately.

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Back in July, my inbox lit up with an email from the team behind Canadian fashion designer Hilary MacMillan. She was planning to launch her spring/summer 2020 collection and was expanding the size range of select pieces to plus sizes up to a size 4X, or a size 28.

In the press release, MacMillan explained that it had always been her goal to offer extended sizing but “the timing had to be right and the consumer demand had to be there.”

Well here we were, and to be honest, I couldn’t be more thrilled. 

Only five months prior to the announcement via press release of her extended line, I had interviewed MacMillan about the state of the plus-size industry, specifically at Toronto Fashion Week, and she said there was a place for more size diversity. At the time, I had no idea what MacMillan and her team had in store.

This year at Toronto Fashion Week, MacMillan debuted her extended collection on the runway with plus-sized models Brittnee Blair and Makela Saint Fort taking centre stage.

For the first time ever, I sat front row and saw bodies like mine wearing clothes that could fit on my body.

It was a moment of representation, but it was also a moment to experience beautiful and fashion-forward runway-ready clothes for plus-size bodies. Honestly, my heart was so goddamn full.

Post-show, MacMillan sent me a message on Instagram and invited me to her studio anytime. Of course, I took her up on the offer to sit down and talk about all things clothes. 

On this seasonably warm September day in MacMillan’s studio in Cabbagetown, I sit down across from her and we chat like old friends. Her warmth and personality is so inviting, and I ask her frankly: “Did you know about the line when I interviewed you for NOW back in February?”  She cautiously smiles at me, “It’s always been something on my mind, ever since we extended the sizing for our Feminist bomber jackets.” She continues to explain “each year, as more requests came in, and we became more stable, we just decided it was time.” 

The entire spring/summer 2020 collection, including the extended line, took nearly 10 months to develop, including designing, manufacturing, and then getting out to consumers.

Although MacMillan is a formally trained designer, she shares that in design school they were never trained on pattern making for extended sizes.

“It wasn’t even offered, and I think it was a big misstep,” she admits sharing that while she was in school, she didn’t even think about it.

“It was probably because I was only a size 10, and didn’t need to think about it.” Since then, she’s spent a lot of time researching the market, reading books about plus-size fashion, talking to people in the industry, and comparative shopping to get a sense of the market. “It’s important to get a sense of the different brands, see how their fits are, and what they are doing and how they are changing certain things up.” 

While this first spring/summer extended collection was developed quickly (MacMillan’s words), she is hoping that now that it is out there to take things and start a dialogue with people.

“We’ve already been tweaking things, and I definitely would like to hear from as many people as possible. That’s kind of the end goal and this is to kind of get the most knowledge that’s available. Be it positive or negative. It’s always like a learning process.”

MacMillan is quick to recognize that there is a shift happening in the industry with the plus-size market, and wants to actually pay attention to her plus-size customer rather than shut them out.

It’s a welcomed change, but she believes that half of what working in fashion is about is listening to people.

“Sometimes, things don’t work and you can cry and get upset about it. But sometimes things just don’t work out and it was a misstep, and you just move on and try to make something better the next season.”

The pricing of the collection ranges from $150-300 and it is currently in pre-order.