Apparel June 2019 Apparel June 2019 | Page 51

FEATURE WHEN DISSECTING THE MARKET FOR PLUS-SIZE CLOTHING, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO CONSIDER IS THE ECONOMICS OF PRODUCTION AND PURCHASE. Oversized clothing is a special segment of garments within the textile industry; special as this category has been put to motion by size specifications, which, over the years, have given way to exclusive designs and brands that devote themselves to crafting plus-size clothing. Moreover, as body-hugging garments began being less significant, anti-fit and oversized clothing gained higher prominence. However, plus-size clothing entails more than a trend—it is also about garments that are designed and created for a particular body type. When dissecting the market for plus- size clothing, the most important thing to consider is the economics of production and purchase. Plus-size clothing has become a phenomenon, and bloggers such as Neha Parulkar and Aashna Bhagwani have become prominent influencers in this category. This segment, which was earlier overlooked, has now come under the limelight. With international and domestic retailers, and even online and offline channels leveraging the sector, the future of the plus-size clothing market is promising, and there is a lot in store for the industry and its patrons. APPAREL I June 2019 I 45