Feeling disheartened by the whims of the ever-changing and body-shaming fashion industry? Don’t worry, there’s a solution. I have found the perfect dress that fits flawlessly and boosts my confidence.
In line with my grandmother’s wise words, I simply create it myself.
While the fashion industry diminishes its offerings for plus-size individuals, independent pattern designers catering to larger women have gained immense popularity. A discussion was sparked in the do-it-yourself (D.I.Y.) community after Instagram posts highlighted the lack of size diversity in sewing patterns back in 2019. Instead of ignoring the concerns, pattern designers listened and responded. Now, there is a wide range of plus-size sewing patterns available, accommodating various waist, hip, and bust measurements. Every May, Instagram hosts #MeMadeMay, a celebration for people who create their own clothing. Accounts like @tanglesandstarlight, @fat.bobbin.girl, @husqvarnaqueen, and @frocksandfroufrou inspire others to make their own clothes, emphasizing the empowering experience it can be.
This is a lesson that mass retail should closely observe. Plus size is no longer an exception; it is the new normal. According to a study by Plunkett Research, two-thirds of American women wear a size 14 or above. If major brands have pushed us away from their stores and into our own communities, they have only themselves to blame. I believe that once women discover how much better clothes feel and fit when tailored to their unique bodies, they won’t go back to standardized, one-size-fits-some options found in stores. While mass retail focuses on uniformity, trends, and disposability, the me-made movement celebrates the fact that each body is distinct, different, and deserving of appreciation.
In her article “Butts: A Backstory,” journalist Heather Radke explores the garment industry’s struggle to standardize women’s sizing. She explains that bodies are unique, while most clothes since the 1920s are mass-produced. As clothing sizes increase, the likelihood of finding a perfectly fitting garment diminishes due to complex pattern grading techniques. Women’s sizing lacks consistency across brands, making it impossible to use specific measurements like inseam and chest to determine an overall size. This lack of uniformity has driven women to create their own clothes, as Professor Abigail Glaum-Lathbury of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago describes: “Unless your clothes are made for you, they don’t actually fit.”
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