Igigi: Ahead of the Curve
Ahead of the Curve is a guest series highlighting designers who have continuously designed for the 12+ woman, written by plus size fashion blogger Marie Leggette.
As mainstream designers embrace plus size fashion, journalists debate its existence, and plus size models grace some of fashion’s most prominent magazines, there were and have always been the few, the proud, the plus: the plus size designers who have long delivered fashion for the curvy gal before the rest.
One of those few is designer Yuliya Raquel, the designer behind Igigi. Pronounced “ee-zhee-zhee,†tha label has been at the forefront of plus size fashion with its contemporary fashions, timeless appeal, and uncanny attention to detail for the last ten years.
“Many customers write to say my clothes make them feel virtually invincible, like a goddess. That’s what makes it all worthwhile to me.†– Yuliya Raquel
Raquel was a pre-med student before recognizing her personal and professional calling in plus size fashion. Amazed at the lack of fashionable choices for the plus sized woman, she recalls a beautiful woman coming in, trying on the dresses, falling to tears, realizing that even a size 12 can be just as beautiful as the size 2s that dominate most fashion coverage. Raquel was so moved with this transformation that she fully realized the tribulations and transformations plus size women endure every day.
“There isn’t much of a difference in designing for a voluptuous body versus a straight sized body,” says Raquel, who has designed for couture clients in the 2-10 size range. “Ultimately, every woman wants to accent their best features, deemphasize their areas of concern, and be able to strut confidently in clothes they love. My job is to do just that.”
While she enjoyed creating these one-of-a-kind dresses as a couturier, Raquel wanted to reach more than a handful of plus size women. That was ten years ago. Since then, IGIGI stands strong as a brand recognizing and celebrating the vivacious, alluring, and sensual curves of the plus size woman.
Beyond offering choices to an under-served demographic, Yuliya Raquel also pulls of two feats which have challenged many designers: most items are priced under $200, and the clothes are designed and produced in San Francisco. With garment districts in many cities disappearing as production moves to China (often for cost saving reasons), it’s triply impressive to find a designer offering collections that are success stories not only because of the market targeted, but for business reasons as well.
Visit Igigi on Facebook to learn more about the brand.
