The 2018 Innovation Fund, our annual crowdfunding competition, has officially launched! You can find all of the Innovation Fund participants here. Read on for the story of Bloom Edition, led by 2017 Fellow Sarah Cantu, who is raising $3,000 to create the world’s only magazine dedicated to inclusive fashion.
Growing up, I can recall exactly 0 times I felt completely happy with my body. That sounds dramatic, but it’s true. Even from my earliest memories from preschool, I always felt ashamed of my body. With frizzy hair, crooked teeth and terrible eyesight, I felt like there was more about myself that needed to be corrected rather than appreciated. Add to that the fact that I was perpetually chubby, and you get a kid with some serious body image issues.
For someone who loved to laugh and learn and play, I was painfully shy. It took me awhile to understand that the way I felt about my looks had completely seeped into my demeanor. I spent so much time wanting to physically shrink and correct my appearance to be non offensive, that I crafted my personality around it.
It’s not me, it’s…just about everyone.
Now, I wish I could say this storyline was unique. But as many of you probably know, it’s really not. There’s a number of studies on the subject, with numbers as high as 91% of women “who are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting.”
While body image issues affect people of all sizes, people who are overweight are disproportionately affected by bias and stigma because of their bodies. Beyond stigma, there are more quantifiable issues faced by overweight people.
One of the biggest reasons we started this project was because of lack of access to fashionable, affordable plus-size clothing. Despite the fact that the average U.S. woman is a size 16, the majority of fashion retailers don’t offer a plus-size clothing option. And when they do, they’re often a small selection of clothing and priced at a premium.
In addition to clothing, research shows that bias against overweight people can manifest in the form of inaccurate assumptions about personality, lower earning potential over a career, and more.
Eye-openers.
I remember the first time I found a plus-size fashion blogger (Gabi Gregg, AKA Gabi Fresh). I was in total awe. It was the first time that I remember somebody presenting plus-size clothing as something fashionable and creative, as opposed to a necessary evil. It was one of many steps that has helped me change the way I see myself.
I want to create that same experience I had when I first found Gabi Gregg’s blog for other people struggling with body image.
Enter: Bloom Edition.
That’s why I started Bloom Edition, an online magazine dedicated to inclusive fashion. While the fashion industry has made positive strides over the last few years, there’s more work to be done.
At Bloom Edition, we believe that fashion and access to clothing has the potential to positively impact the way that people see themselves. Magazines and digital content are one of the most accessible ways people to experience and be inspired by fashion, so we’re excited to work to subvert the norm of what many think fashion is and who it’s for.
Bloom Edition is dedicated to creating a space where a wider spectrum of bodies are celebrated through the lens of fashion. If you believe in our mission, we’d love your support of the campaign.