The plus size industry would be nothing without Black plus size women. Plus size bloggers of color and are the reason that we, as plus size folks, have more stylish, fashion forward options than ever before. With more than 12 years experience running the top plus size fashion media site, Marie Denee of The Curvy Fashionista is a trailblazer in making the fashion industry more inclusive. She is once elevating the plus size fashion industry – this time, by launching .
The Cultivate Awards is an initiative designed to nurture and support the next generation of BIPOC indie designers in the plus size fashion community. Joining The Curvy Fashionista in the quest for a more inclusive fashion industry is . As you have seen many times here on my blog and most recently on my YouTube, ELOQUII doesn’t shy away from making bold statement pieces in sizes 14 to 28.
Who Is Eligible?
In order to be eligible for the award, the designer must identify as BIPOC and must have a plus size (size 14+) audience for at least two years a.k.a. a designer who has already been serving the plus size market. are available on the Curvy Fashionista website where judges will review them on a rolling basis through March 1, 2021.
The Prizes
The Curvy Fashionista and ELOQUII will award the Cultivate Award winner with:
- a $10,000 grant,
- a one-year professional mentorship program
- a capsule collection for consideration to be produced and sold on ELOQUII.com in 2022
Two runner’s up will win $2,500 grants and additional prizes. The public will also be choosing a “Voter’s Choice.” Finalists will all appear on a live-stream event in May where the winners will be announced.
The Judges
The judges represent some major industry players including Lindsay Peoples Wagner (The Cut Editor-in-Chief, former Teen Vogue Editor-in-Chief, Black in Fashion Council Co-founder), Timothy Snell (celebrity stylist), Liris Crosse (first plus-size model winner of Project Runway), and Yesenia Torres (ELOQUIIâs Director of Design).
âIâve been looking for ways to create a lasting impact on the plus-size community, and The Cultivate Award is one of them,â said Denee âWeâve been seeking designer collaborations with indies in our community for years, and it was particularly important for this program to be centered around BIPOC indie designers, as theyâve been the creative force behind plus-size fashion.â
As Denee said, BIPOC indie designers have long been the first to serve the plus size market with inclusive fashion forward options. When large retailers do collaborations, they are often with straight size designers or bloggers. I am personally elated to see BIPOC plus designers get the shine and resources that they need to create!
Who are some of your favorite BIPOC plus size designers you’d love to see design a capsule collection for ELOQUII? I know there’s quite a few designers I’d love to see shake up ELOQUII’s site with some bold styles.