Selling clothing to plus-size women

[ladyjanelly]

I've got a few non-custom-order 2XL sweater-hoodie projects in my work-stream and I'm wondering how to handle a couple of issues and I'm hoping to get some feedback from anyone who wants to give it, but especially you ladies who are around that size.  I apologize in advance for anything I get wrong and hope I don't offend anyone.  

Using upcycled materials for plus sizes is a little different than using stock fabric, in that it requires quite a bit more labor to go along with the larger amount of sweaters.  There is more piecing required to make it large enough and to keep it from having too much non-altered space.  Also, "found" zippers only come 22", maybe 24" and are too short for the plus sizes so I need to buy new decorative hooks that are almost the same cost as the sweaters themselves.  

So to be fair to myself, the finished 2XL product needs to be around 1.5 times the price of a medium.  But I feel bad charging more, I feel guilty that i don't have any of that size up yet, and I feel it's being condescending to explain why it's more in my product notes even though I know I probably should so it doesn't look like I'm taking advantage of the larger size ladies.  

Does that makes sense at all?  I don't even know for sure what my question is, I just would like your thoughts and maybe that'll give me a starting place to tease through my own emotions on this issue and figure out what I'm even asking.

Thanks for any feedback,
-J

Comments

[redfirecracker.livejournal.com]

I also wear a 2X, but I have a different sort of problem, in that I am very short. Many commonly available sweaters and jackets are too long on me, and I end up leaving them open anyway. I like the suggestion above of seeing what you can do to minimize fasteners where you can.

Frankly, I think most of us who are plus sized are aware ( and rather resigned ) that we will be paying more for our clothes than our skinnier friends. This is the first that I've heard of the cost of zippers and other fasteners as part of the reason, though, so I do appreciate knowing that! It's a real pain to make properly fitted clothes for plus-sized women, and it's awesome that you're taking the time and trouble to do so. My grandmother STILL knits me sweaters that she just upsizes from a pattern for my slimmer cousins. Fortunately, she lives in Florida, and doesn't know that I just give them away later.

I'm not sure how Etsy works, but maybe you could put an explanation ( similar to then one you gave here ) on your main page, and then include in the item posting a line like, "Please see my seller page for details regarding plus-size cost and sizing options" or something like that?

[ladyjanelly.livejournal.com]

If you want shorter, I can custom sew a sweater-hoodie for you. :) But it's good to know that the price increase is expected.

When I'm using existing zip-up sweaters to make the hoodies from, I've only ever found one that was 2XL. The zippers on the sm-lg sweaters are usually 20-22, and I like a longer sweater that covers the hips, so I usually find a way to add length to that. With the biger sizes, I need a 26-28" zipper (which are impossible to find already on a sweater) or I need to buy them and add the time and cost to the price. A 22" zipper costs $3. A 30" zipper costs $5, so even if I was using new, it would be more expensive by almost double. On the plus-sizes I"m going to add 3 sets of these little metal clasps: http://www.twinrosesdesigns.com/Cloak%20Clasps%20for%20Sale.html or whatever I happen to find on existing thrift-store garments to keep the part above the zipper from being too long.

I don't knit, but I couldn't imagine upsizing a garment that way. I keep an eye on this chart: http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/womansize.html to see how things will fit, but even then people are built different.

I think what I'm going to do is just mention all the things I do to the plus-sizes without saying "and this makes it more expensive." Like I'll mention the extra piecing work and how little "dead" space there is, and how many sweaters went into it, and that there's zipper plus clasps. Especially on the ready-to-wear ones I think that'll do it.

Thanks so much for your info and feedback. I do really appreciate it.