New local business offers an affordable and inclusive option for all plus size people
Photo via @fat.sisters.vintage on Instagram.
With the continued increase of clothing prices, many people are opting to thrift their wardrobes to avoid these costs. But this is not a possibility for everyone.
Shopping as a plus size person is already quite challenging, with many stores only carrying up to a size 14 or XXL, but finding second-hand plus size clothing can be almost impossible. However, two sisters have taken it upon themselves to help fill this gap in Victoria.
If you’re searching for affordable plus size clothing, look no further than Fat Sisters Vintage. The new shop is Victoria’s first and only plus size consignment store, run by sisters Brenna and Erika. They initially began in September 2023 as an online plus size consignment shop, which they ran out of Brenna’s apartment.
“We just wanted to make it better for people who look like us,” Erika explained in an interview with Chek News following the opening of their new storefront on Fort Street in early February.
Fat Sisters Vintage has a wonderful, welcoming atmosphere the moment you step through the door with bright, colourful clothes lining the walls. It is a comfortable and inclusive space, which are few and far between for plus size people when it comes to shopping. They have a great selection of clothes in various styles and sizes, as well as bags, shoes, and a variety of other accessories. They also carry handmade goods from several local makers and small businesses.
While the limited plus size clothes in other thrift stores are often overpriced, Fat Sisters Vintage has a wide selection of reasonably priced items. Carrying sizes 1X to 6X, Fat Sisters Vintage is the perfect sustainable option for anyone looking for affordable plus size clothing. Brenna and Erika have created a beautifully curated collection of plus size items, introducing a much-needed inclusive option to Victoria’s thrifting community.
Fat Sisters Vintage accepts plus size clothing for consignment and offers 50 per cent of the item’s sale price. Beyond consignment, Fat Sisters Vintage also takes donations of clothes starting at size 1X, which are given to various local charities, including Our Place Society, 1Up Single Parent Resource Centre, and the Native Friendship Centre.
The store is not exclusively for women or femme-presenting people either. Fat Sisters accepts clothing for all genders. In their interview with Chek news, the sisters note that “this store is for anybody. Women, men, they/thems, Two-Spirit individuals, like anybody.”
Fat Sisters Vintage is an excellent addition to the other vintage and second-hand stores on Fort, including The Vend, Luna Collective, and Botched.
“Shopping or consigning with us means that you’ll have more opportunities to feel excited instead of embarrassed when you need something new to wear,” the sisters explain on their website. “When you walk into our shop we know you’ll find beautiful options in your size.”
Fat Sisters Vintage is open Wednesday to Saturday from 12–6 p.m. and Sunday from 12–5 p.m. You can also order online, with options to pick up your order in store or have it shipped to you.
