In this episode of The Body Talks I sit down with designer, consultant and plus size fashion advocate Sara Brown to explore the reality of inclusive sizing today and how the industry can finally do better.
We begin with a grounding breath and a gentle body check in, then move into a conversation about clothes, queerness, softness and the joy of expressing yourself in a world that still tries to shrink certain bodies into silence.
Sara shares her journey from being a size 16 teenager unable to buy anything in high street shops, to designing for major brands, to consulting for companies who genuinely want to expand their size ranges in a thoughtful way.
Together we look at the current landscape of plus size fashion
why representation on runways is going backwards (with a nod to Including The Curve and Felicity Hayward’s vital trend reports)
why beloved inclusive brands are closing
where companies are still missing the mark
and the designers and labels who are leading the way, including Lucy & Yak, Sinéad O’Dwyer, If Only If and Unhidden: powerful examples of what it looks like when inclusivity and accessibility are built into the design process rather than added on afterwards
Sara speaks honestly about what inclusive design really requires: proper grading, fit testing on real bodies, colour without shame, and clothing that is not simply scaled up but intentionally created with bigger bodies in mind.
We also talk about
• internalised fatphobia and the part of you that still knows you are valuable
• how colour becomes a quiet act of activism for bigger bodies
• late queerness, silly joy and finding your people
• why plus size customers are some of the most loyal when they feel seen
• Sara's work with Lucy & Yak, If Only If and more
• fashion, identity and the power of being soft
We close with a final breathing practice and an invitation from Sara’s body to soften.
Connect with Sara:
Website: sarabrowndesign.com
Instagram: instagram.com/sarabrowndesign
DM or email her directly through her contact page
Connect with your host Chloé:
Instagram: @chloedallolio
Podcast platform for previews and behind the scenes: @thebodytalks.love
