This post is part of our Because of Her series by blogger Marie Denee. In honor of Black History Month, this series aims to shed light on the women of color who sparked change for the plus-size fashion industry to help build it be what it is today.
Written by Marie Denee
If you have been following along, you know that we have been serving up amazing Black plus-size history by recognizing the women of color whose work has laid the foundation for what we know and love in plus-size fashion today! We’ve covered the event producers and stylists behind the scenes and the content creators who have impacted today’s burgeoning plus-size fashion blogging space. So, what’s left? The early plus-size designers and boutique owners who were the first to create the clothing made for plus-size bodies that we were asking for.
Long before the day of the Instagram boutique and fast-fashion giants, we had some plus-size designers of color whose work inspired manufacturers. For those of us who enjoy an in-store plus-size shopping experience, there have been some plus-size boutique owners who have been busily providing options from indie plus-size designers! At a time when many brands are still only selling plus-sizes online, these designers and boutique owners were far ahead of their time.
When it comes to plus-size designers, there have been trailblazers such as Jasmine Elder of Jibri, Qristyl Frazier of Qristyl Frazier Designs, and Monif Clarke of Monif C. These three women have constantly and consistently made waves even before plus-size and inclusive fashion was a staple of the cultural zeitgeist, with looks in magazine features, on-screen features, TV shows, and fashion shows. These women have challenged the dominating narrative assigned to us, pushing against the so-called fashion rules for plus-size women to follow. They helped usher in the wave of confidence to wear bold colors, innovative silhouettes, and one-of-a-kind options for the plus-size women who love fashion.
We asked a few questions to both Monif Clarke and Jasmine Elder about their inspirations, their start, and their journey in plus-size fashion. See their responses below.
What prompted you to start this journey and choose this path?
Jasmine Elder: I have been a fashion lover my entire life. I always made my own clothes as a teen just to stand out. Once I entered the working world, I didn’t have as much time, so I needed to shop. Yikes! At that time, I had a really hard time finding clothing that matched my style, so I started creating again. I figured I couldn’t be the only plus-size woman in the world who loved everyday glam, so I stepped out on faith and gave it a try.
Monif Clarke: I attribute starting Monif C. to being open to the possibilities of life which caused a series of events to synergistically come together. I was not on the career path of becoming a fashion designer as my background is in mathematics and computer science.
Though, I have been a plus-size woman all my life and often wondered why there weren’t better clothing options for us. I was at a time of my life where I didn’t know what was next for me, so I traveled to Europe which is where I got the inspiration to start my own clothing line.
Who has inspired you on this path?
Monif Clarke: My mother is my biggest inspiration as she was always an entrepreneur, even while raising 3 kids and working full-time as a teacher. She taught me the importance of using your creativity and skills to help others and create businesses.
Jasmine Elder: Far too many people to name have inspired me. Some of my main inspirations are my family: my parents, grandparents, and aunts all have amazing style, each one unique. My mom always dressed in theme when I was a kid. She never wore just an olive wrap dress, but rather it was a full safari moment with a khaki cargo jacket, espadrilles, brass bangles, and a brightly colored scarf. I always loved her head-to-toe looks!
What do you feel that plus-size fashion is missing or could use more of?
Jasmine Elder: Money! I know there are some talented plus designers we haven’t met yet who need financial support to show the world their perspective.
Monif Clarke: The plus-size industry is missing creativity and uniqueness. We, like a lot of the fashion world, have fallen into the low-cost fast-fashion trap and the outcome is that everything looks the same and nothing is of good quality. I hope the industry begins to recognize the importance of supporting independent designers and finds a way to get behind them.
Preach Jasmine and Monif!
If you are craving the same thing out of the industry, be sure to check out the boutique owners with physical stores who made it their mission to provide us with the same shopping experience as our straight-size friends. Check out boutique owners like Melissa of Chic and Curvy, Qiana of Curve Culture Boutique, Letitia of Honey’s Child Boutique, and Cassandra of Curvaceous Boutique. While these are not all the boutiques that have been around, these are definitely a few who have put in work, made a name for their business, and have given back to the community. Luckily, we now have so many boutiques that on The Curvy Fashionista we have created a plus-size boutique directory featuring all of the known boutiques across the country who cater to our curves!
It is because of these women who braved the fashion industry and climate, that we have the designs, fashionable options, and the physical space to play dress up! These designers and boutique owners have listened to what we needed and desired and went against the status quo, pushing back to the businesses and wholesalers, to create what we need and in our sizes.
Their work, along with the women in the past weeks’ spotlights, plays a major part in helping move the plus-size fashion industry forward. It’s all because of her!
Tune in next week as we shine the light on the ones to watch grow in the plus-size fashion space.
