Did you catch that we held a panel at this recent Essence Festival? Ohhh, yes! Thanks to our sponsors, Lane Bryant, we were able to make it out to EssenceFest and host a panel discussion on the SOKO Mkt Stage inside the convention center! Because of my participation in the New Voices Madame CJ Walker Institute PACE Bootcamp, we were able to pitch and submit our panel idea to Essence!

Our Essence Fest panel topic?

“Putting Plus in the Fashion Inclusive Conversation”

We have been talking about and around the opportunity in the plus size space, the plus size community we miss, and the changes in management, but we at TCF have noticed that with all this talk about inclusivity when it comes to Black designers, we wanted to make sure to include the plus size options that are noticeably absent from the conversation.

The Louisiana heat ensured that I dress comfortably for the occasion, for both day AND night. Not only did I need a dress that was lightweight, airy, breathable and easy, I needed pajamas, too. That is just what this Lane Bryant Tie-Waist Midi Dress in this fun Navy Ikat print did for me as well as this Printed Cami & Pant PJ Set in the Sensuous Petals print.

As we made our way through the Essence Fest Expo Hall, I was both nervous and excited! Taking the stage for our panel, I was so happy that I was comfortable and felt good about my outfit. One less thing to worry about, right?

Flanked with plus size indie designer, Jasmine Elder of Jibri and Gabrielle Richards, Brand Director at Trafilea Group (Shapermint, The Bod Con, and True Kind), and moderated by me, we jumped into an amazing conversation!

I opened with the question: “with 67% of American women identifying as plus, it’s baffling that when you go to browse and support Black designers, we are lucky if we get anything above an XL. Why do you think that is and why is it important for them to make plus?”

Afterall, this conversation is all about increasing the access to plus size fashion and having a plus size designer and brand manager here to give insights only helped to provide context, challenges, and understanding. Especially when both Jibri and Shapermint go up through a 4X.

And one of our next questions called out the manufacturing “challenges” many cite as a reason to not get into plus, and we asked this question: “As a size-inclusive brand catering to all sizes, you know the manufacturing, design, and marketing challenges that are often highlighted as reasons to not do plus. We know that there are brands that have mastered this process – I mean Lane Bryant has been around since 1904 and they’ve figured it out (and still are expanding sizing options)! You all are newer, can you discuss how you all managed to overcome those challenges? Currently, if you can share, what percentage of plus sizes make up your business?”

And Gabrielle did not disappoint. She shared how intentional the brand was on serving their customer, shared how a large portion of her customers are plus, and how through listening to their customers, they have been able to make adjustments, changes, and improvements on their product to better serve the market.

Wrapping up the panel discussion, I asked the panelists what could be done here. “How can the industry both support and hold them accountable to servicing all their customers?” Jasmine Elder mentioned that it is so important to continue to support the indie designers who ARE creating for and designing for the plus size community. Gabrielle echoed this and also reiterated sharing feedback with the brands, so that that they could better serve us.

Missed our Panel Conversation at Essence Fest? We went live on IG and have it below for you to watch! It was just shy of 30 minutes!

This trip was a whirlwind in humid 90+ degree weather, surrounded by beautiful people, impactful conversations, and an excitement that has me already ideating how TCF can do more to bring plus size fashion to Essence Fest for next year!

Thanks to Lane Bryant and Shapermint, we were able to make this panel and much needed conversation happen! Who knows what and how plus size fashion will show up next year, but one thing sis for sure, we will be back!

Have you been to Essence Fest? What would you like to see more of or how would you like to have plus size fashion show up at EssenceFest?