Fat Fits Is Missoula's First Fat-Inclusive Community
Missoulian Hailey Michelson is making big moves in the repurposed-fashion and community sectors. Fashion, clothes, design, and creativity are all passions for Hailey, founder of Fat Fits.
The body positivity movement is giving people and their bodies the freedom to live their best lives, but that doesn’t eliminate the stereotypes, discrimination, and struggles for fat people and their options for fun, relevant fashion. Traveling showed Hailey how other cities have fat-inclusive communities that support one another and create a space that allow expression, networking, and confidence. Michelson knew Missoula needed this.
Hailey’s goal for Fat Fits involves connecting with people in the Missoula community through plus-size pop up shops and group hobbies, recreational activities, and meet ups. While her pop ups will allow you to try on the clothing and explore different styles, she will also have items for sale on Instagram for non-locals. Hailey’s inventory is a mix of vintage, thrifted, new, and personal pieces ranging in sizes 16-28 with the plan to expand further.
Hailey is focused on creating a safe and inclusive space and events where fat people can come together to shop based on styles, patterns, colors, and aesthetic rather than organized sizing.
She shared, “I’m still learning, and I’m hoping we teach each other as a community. I support body positivity, no one should be shamed or ridiculed, however, I often feel like body positivity leaves out an important voice, fat people. Fat positivity — something that I definitely subscribe to — takes this positivity one step further in addressing the systemic oppression that fat people experience every day.
”There are studies and statistics showing fat people are paid less money or struggle moving up in their career, receive inadequate and biased healthcare and have adverse health effects due to the stress of being ridiculed and marginalized as a fat person.”
Michelson brings a refreshing outlook and a bold, yet gentle approach to loving your body. Her excitement to learn about the styles and pieces clients are interested in finding sets her apart from other retail owners.
The first Fat Fits pop up will take place July 29, 2021, from 4pm-8pm at 535 E Front St. in Missoula. You can find more updates on the Facebook event page. Hailey is excited to offer a fun atmosphere with music, snacks, and over 100 items for sale. “This pop up is really to gage the interest in what other community driven events people are interested in like book clubs, potlucks in the park, or pool parties,” Hailey shared.
You can find Fat Fits on IG: @fat.fits.clothing.community
