Since 2014, Mutual Muse has been dedicated to buying and selling plus-size clothing from the beginning. From listening to our plus-size friends, family, and customers, and know how draining it can be to find clothes they love, that fit and don’t cost the earth. It's frustrating for us and our customers that there simply aren’t as many plus-size clothes available from high-quality brands.
Because of the challenge in finding fab first hand plus-sized options, we do sometimes struggle to keep up with customer demand in the stores. It creates a self-fulfilling cycle: we buy from the community but the community has a lack of clothes they can or want to pass on.
“When I find something that fits me, makes me feel good, is well made... it's hard to give that piece up.’ - Annika Nielsen, plus size influencer and community mentor.
Finding acceptable clothes in desirable styles can be a bit like finding a needle in a haystack. This is anecdotal evidence from years of listening to plus sized friends and customers. It takes so much work for a customer to buy clothes that they like in the first place, that when they are no longer wearing that item, customers are extremely hesitant to sell their items back to the community.
Malia Solman playing dress up in prep for the past A Plus Market ☀︎
The biggest issue is that most brands simply don’t make an accessibly sized range of options. The average Australian woman wears size 14-16, however Australian designers rarely prioritize making clothes for anyone over a size 12. Inclusive sizing made by high quality brands is mostly represented by smaller ethical designers, making it even less accessible for most consumers - due to things like price and proximity to the brand.
“I hate when the clothing styles themselves tell the intended wearer that we should be hiding our bodies. Some of us (regardless of body shape and size) want to stand out and look loud, or fun, or sexy or slutty even - but sadly plus size fast fashion is often built to perpetuate fading into the background “ - Malia Sloman
Plus size customers want to wear the same styles that everyone else has access to. Many plus size designs are made to hide the body, not to mention the fabrics used can be deeply average - polyester is everywhere!. Styles can feel distinctly middle-aged. Plus size people deserve better.
Malia Solman playing dress up in prep for the past A Plus Market ☀︎
Some brands we love who are size up to a 32 and are killing it with our plus-sized customers is Lucy & Yak, Levi’s, Dyspnea, Selkie, Kholo, Remmie by Riley, Hara the label, Commonry and Bohemian Traders.
One way we keep in touch with what’s happening in plus-size fashion is by buying and selling at A Plus Market. It’s been an absolute delight and honour. A Plus Market provides a warm, friendly, safe environment for plus- sized people to have a good time, look amazing and shop secondhand clothes that actually fit them, sold by people that look like them.
Adelle Kelly modelling for Mutual Muse at the last A Plus Market ☀︎
Participating in the A+ community has helped our in-store experience so much. Seeing plus-sized customers on shopping trips with friends and actually finding secondhand options to try on and buy is the best feeling ever. Keep an eye on socials for when we’re next attending APlus and please consider selling to us beforehand or visiting us there!
Despite the challenges, Mutual Muse is dedicated to offering the best experience possible for our plus-sized friends and we hope this part of the business will continue to grow over the next 10 years.
♥︎ Kirsta xx