Hackwith Design House Goes Plus-Size

Right on the heels of my recent article about Minnesota’s lack of plus-size shopping opitons comes the news of Mei Smith, a new e-commerce website dedicated to selling boutique-quality pieces by emerging womenswear brands for sizes 12 and over. The New York–based company has tapped Minneapolis brand Hackwith Design House to create plus-size versions of four of its signature silhouettes: the Wu tank (which appears to have yet to be added to the site), the Mei vest, the Celestin jacket, and the Ayanna dress, ranging in price from $210 to $320. The lightweight pieces in cotton-linen and poly-cotton blends are perfect for the summer (and layerable for spring). L.A. designer Shaina Mote, U.S.-made line Benjamin Jay, and Carmakoma, a Danish designer plus-size brand.

Admittedly, it’s a small step in the right direction, but with more and more independent designers seeking out the plus-size marketplace, it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the plus-size market follows with more stylish options—and makes plus-size shopping more accessible than ever.

Now available @ meismith.com

Here are some images of Hackwith’s pieces from Mei Smith’s spring/summer 2015 lookbook:

[Photos: Heath Latter courtesy Mei Smith]