Plus-Size Clothing Brand Cherry Bobbins Addresses the Lack of Size Inclusivity in Fashion

In collaboration with Cherry Bobbins*

We seem to be spoilt for choice when it comes to clothing store options in Hong Kong. You can buy outfits in traditional brick-and-mortar stores and order your clothes online, and will most likely find garments to suit a wide range of budgets. However, this may be trickier for women in the plus-size category, who generally require clothing labelled UK size 18 and over (or US size 14 and above) — sizes that are not always available in shops. Even curvy women who should fit into standard sizes may find that they can’t because these clothes don’t suit their body shape.

Hong Kong brand Cherry Bobbins was born out of a need to address the lack of plus sizes and size inclusivity in retail fashion. Founder Cherisse Kofod says her personal struggles with finding clothes to fit her — as well as the difficulties she faced trying to find brands that would provide outfits for plus-size models for campaigns she worked on — inspired her to start the online fashion label that catered to curvy women.

Wide range of plus sizes

The Cherry Bobbins size range goes from UK/AU size 6-24 and has a wide variety of options for customers — think dresses, midi dresses, and matching sets in bold and fun styles. The Hong Kong-based plus-size store also has crop tops, shirts, and jackets that you can match with their shorts and skirts. And if you want to add a bit of pizzazz to your outfit, Cherry Bobbins even has accessories, such as bags and bag charms.

There is a lot of flexibility within the brand’s designs, which aims to accommodate different customer requirements. For instance, if you have a shorter waist, you can wear the skirt of a matching set higher up so it looks like you’ve got a dress on. If you’re unsure of your size, contact the brand directly and send them your measurements so they can help you zero in on a design and style that will best suits you.

Making room for size inclusivity

Cherisse explains that the majority of clothes are designed to fit a standard body shape known as ‘Rectangle’ or ‘Column’, which has relatively similar bust, waist, and hip measurements. However, this means that women with curves, who do not adhere to this standard, will likely have difficulties in finding clothing that fits them properly.

The brand, therefore, has designs for curvy women, irrespective of size, and has features to accommodate the specific needs of individual wearers. For instance, some styles have elastic for women with larger busts, while others don’t have elastic for those with smaller busts. The website also has a sizing chart so you can figure out your size based on Australia, UK, US, European, and International standards. Read their guide to how to shop for your body shape to understand which Cherry Bobbins design would work best for you.

Advocates for slow fashion and sustainability

Cherry Bobbins bills itself as a slow fashion brand and therefore focuses on high-quality designs as opposed to trend-driven pieces of comparatively substandard quality. The emphasis is on reducing consumption and production and creating better-quality garments that will last longer. Brands that are part of this movement typically bring out one or two collections a year, with the idea of getting customers to view clothing as a long-term investment.

Cherry Bobbins also strives to be a sustainable business by manufacturing small quantities and minimising waste. The majority of the fabrics they use are natural, and if you’re particular about shopping sustainably, you can check out their certified sustainable designs here. In addition, they pack their garments in compostable and recycled plastic bags to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics.

Meet Cherry Bobbins

Image credits: Cherry Bobbins

*This article is a paid collaboration. To know more, read our Ethics & Transparency statement or visit this page if you’d like to advertise with us.