National Curves Day is a holiday that was originally designed to combat the problem of body shaming on social media platforms. It is observed on the second Wednesday of October and celebrates curves in all their glory. It is also a day on which people are encouraged to wear red to show support for plus-sized men and women all over the U.S.

The History of National Curves Day

National Curves Day was launched in 2015 by the Creative Director and CEO of the John Marc Collection. It was originally intended to encourage plus-size women to love their bodies and be more self-confident, but it has since expanded to include men.

Facts About Plus-Size Fashion

As we dug into this holiday, we discovered some interesting facts about the plus-size fashion industry. Although the fashion industry’s regard for plus-size fashion has been slowly changing over the past few years, many people believe there is plenty of room for this industry to improve. Below are some of the facts we have learned about this industry.

• The average American woman is between sizes 16 and 18.
• The retail market for plus-size women has grown by over 17% since 2002.
• The plus-size fashion industry was a $28 billion industry in 2019.
• In 2021, the market value of plus-size fashions was valued at almost $50 billion.
• Less than 9% of all dresses sold by Nordstrom were plus-size.
• More than 80% of plus-size women say they would spend more money if they had better clothing options.
• Almost 40% of plus-size women wear men’s apparel to work out.
• Almost 70% of all women believe that plus-size women are ignored by the fashion industry.
• Only about an eighth of women’s clothing offered in the U.S. is designed for plus-size women.

Observing National Curves Day

National Curves Day can be observed by wearing something red on this day to show your support for the holiday, sharing your favorite plus-size style on social media using the hashtag #NationalCurvesDay, exploring fashion designed for curvy men or women, or taking a stand against body shaming.