We've detailed, at length, the sartorial discrimination that those who wear above a size 14 face nearly every time they step foot in a store. Whether they're snapped at by snide salespeople or critical customers, forced to shop in the corner of a department store basement (next to the towels and tires, of course), or relegated to an online-only ordeal, their purchasing experience is drastically different from those who wear “straight sizes.” Fortunately, a beacon of body-positivity is in New York City on October 4, so prepare your wallets — it's time to shop the empowering, all-gender Big Fat Flea.
Although one day a year is not enough to cancel out those other shopping situations, the Big Fat Flea aims to provide an inclusive event for those who frequently feel marginalized. And unlike similar shopping events, all the profits from BFF — from ticket and clothing sales — will be donated to NOLOSE, a national body-positive non-profit organization.
With sponsors such as Fashion to Figure, Dia & Co, Bear Skn, Rebdolls, Junonia, Re/Dress, Smart Glamour and more, and donations from ASOS, Dorothy Perkins, Carmakoma, and Torrid, the gathering promises some very fashionable options. Pricing is keeping things inclusive, too: No item will be over $10. There will also be memorial awards given to five self-identified fat, Black, and queer people in honor of a flea organizer and fat activist who passed away this year.
For those who want to skip the line, get first access to all of the clothing, and enjoy a half-hour of crowd-free shopping, a limited number of VIP tickets are available at the door. VIP Shopping begins at 10:30 a.m. and doors open to the general public at 11.
When: Sunday, October 4, 2015 at 11 a.m.
Where: NYU School of Law, 40 Washington Square South (between Macdougal and Sullivan streets).
Tickets: Available here
Where: NYU School of Law, 40 Washington Square South (between Macdougal and Sullivan streets).
Tickets: Available here