One underrepresented market segment is missy-sized garments. These clothes, larger than junior sizes but smaller than plus sizes, are more representative of the average American woman. Thigpen said Jensen Apparel has shifted its focus to meet the demand for these garments made for larger women. “Over and over again we kept hearing [the question], ‘When is a company going to come out with a comprehensive missy line,’” said Thigpen. “So that’s what we’ve done.” The fashion industry relies on models to showcase and sell items, but the average female model is about 5' 8" and weighs 108 to 125 pounds. Even by the most conservative estimate, these women thinly escape being labeled “underweight.” Meanwhile, in the general populous, “Currently, 64.5 percent of U.S. adults, age 20 years and older, are overweight and 30.5 percent are obese.”* This enormous rift has left many American women without fashionable apparel fitted for their bodies. “Missy, that’s the market that has the money,” said Thigpen. Taking a jocular tone, he continued, “Juniors are begging for their parents’ MasterCards and American Express cards to go buy [apparel] at retail, whereas missies, they’re the ones that want it and can’t find it.”
- Places:
- Commerce, Calif.
- Minneapolis