By Aiden Howie
Plus-size women represent nearly 70 percent of shoppers, but the majority of retail brands don’t offer sizes above a women’s size 14. That makes finding fashion that fits a challenge for many women—especially environmentally and budget-conscious plus-size shoppers who’d rather not spend their hard-earned dollars on fast fashion. But there are a growing number of female-founded plus-size resale stores that are working to disrupt the industry, like Cake Plus-Size Resale, founded by Cat Polivoda.
Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Cake serves all genders. Not only is the founder committed to lessening the fashion industry’s impact on the planet, she and her team also aim to foster an inclusive environment focused on size acceptance and radical self-love.
Cat is joined by several other female and nonbinary founders and owners of plus-size resale shops throughout the country. Here are a few:
CHARISMA CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE: Owned by Cece, Charisma strives to use fashion to boost confidence. She practices “true consignment,” which means she offers clothing items for 60 days and gives the consignor 40 percent of the profits. If the item is priced over $100, it’ll be available for purchase for 90 days and the consignor receives half of the profit. Charisma is located in Brandon, Florida. CharismaConsignment.com
CURV EXCHANGE: Founded by Estella Myers, Curv Exchange seeks to provide a positive and honest environment where shoppers feel comfortable. She offers in-store credit in exchange for quality merchandise. She carries clothing sizes 14 and up and shoe sizes 8 and up. Curv Exchange has five locations in the greater Tampa Bay area. CurvExchange.com
FAT FANCY: Founded by Beethoven Thronton, Fat Fancy is a radical fat fashion boutique creating a comfortable, fun and body-positive space for its community. Beethoven accepts like-new clothing for consignment, and the consignor receives 40 percent of the profits. Fat Fancy also offer video chat style consultations and styling sessions and is located in Portland, Oregon. FatFancyFashions.com
FULL FIGURE RESALE: Owned by Janna Morris-Botello and originally founded by her mom, Wyline Morris, Full Figure Resale’s goal is to refresh the mind as well as the wardrobe of its customers. In-store credit or checks are offered in exchange for consignment items. Full Figure Resale is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. FullFigureResale.com
HIPS RESALE BOUTIQUE: Owned by Vikki Stoddart, Hips is a plus-size resale boutique with the motto “style is sizeless!” Hips buys new or gently used women’s clothing sizes 12 through 32 by appointment, with the option of 30 percent cash on the spot or 45 percent in-store credit. Hips is located in Clawson, Michigan. HaveHips.com
PLUS BKLYN: Owned by Alexis Krase, plus BKLYN is a plus-size boutique that seeks to provide its customers with form-fitting and uniquely styled clothing options. Alexia offers 40 percent of the resale value in in-store credit for new or gently used clothing or vintage clothing in great condition. The boutique is located in Brooklyn, New York. plusBKLYN.com
THE PLUS BUS: Founded by Jen Wilder and Marcy Guevara-Prete, The Plus Bus strives to bring the best clothing on the market to its community. Jen and Marcy offer a clothes swap where customers bring in plus-size clothing in exchange for in-store credit. They also offer shopping through Facebook Live sales and Instagram Stories. The Plus Bus is located in Los Angeles, California. ThePlus-Bus.com
TWO BIG BLONDES: Owned by Lisa Michaud, Two Big Blondes focuses on making customers happy through quality clothing and a comfortable space for people to embrace themselves. Clothing sizes 14 and up and shoe sizes 8 and up are considered for consignment. The consignment period is 100 days, and consignors get 40 percent of the profit. Two Big Blondes is located in Seattle, Washington. TwoBigBlondes.com
UNLESHED+ RESALE: Founded by Alesha Bowman, UnLESHed+ Resale offers an affordable selection of gently used, new and vintage clothing in women’s sizes 14 and up. Alesha accepts items in great condition for up to 30 percent of the resale value or a store credit for up to 50 percent of the resale value. Customers may also swap their items for something in the store’s current collection. UnLESHed+ Resale is located in Kansas City, Missouri. ShopUnleshed.com
Do you know about another resale shop that caters to plus size women? Let us know!
Photo credit: Eva Hagel/Boudoir by Eve for Cat Polivoda
About the Author
Aiden Howie is passionate about fighting for equality and the rights of BIPOC and LGBTQ communities, as well as ending hunger. She’s currently attending college in Florida, studying elementary education and Spanish.
About Publish Her
Publish Her is a female-founded publisher dedicated to elevating the words, writing and stories of women. We are passionate about amplifying the voices of women of color, women with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We aim to make publishing an attainable, exciting and collaborative process for all. Publish Her specializes in print-on-demand books, workbooks, journals, magazines and more.
