For a plus-size woman, finding affordable, well-made, on-trend fashion typically is the bane of her existence. There are only a few things she can do about it: Scour the interwebs in the hopes of finding something amazing hiding out in the ether, give into the schulbby options, or make her own clothes. And, for designer Theary Sim, the only option was the latter.
After experiencing the full-figure fashion industry from in front of the lens as a plus-size model, Sim felt overly frustrated with the unflattering options she often modeled, which inspired her to begin designing her line Youtheary Khmer (pronounced yut-terri-come-air). Her whimsical designs are unlike anything else available in the plus-size market right now. Inspired by her Cambodian heritage, her collections are filled with bright colors, elegant draping, and unusual shapes, up to a size 24, and all under $100.
Inspired by her designs, we had to find out more from the woman behind the label. And, without hesitation, she let us know that, unlike everyone else in the plus-size market, Sim set out to do what others thought couldn't be done.
What made you decide to devote your line to the plus-size customer?
"I learned about the fashion industry through modeling. I didn't always like the clothing I had to wear. I would make mental notes on what I would change about the garment to make it the perfect closet essential. Looking at the options, I almost felt like I was being punished for being plus. If I wasn't satisfied with what was being offered to curvy woman, I had to step in and do something about it. That's when I put my passion to paper and developed my collection, Youtheary Khmer. "
What are your feelings on the current plus-size market?
"The challenges for designing for the curvy community are fit, quality, design, and price. I wanted to create a stylish, chic, and vibrant collection that doesn't have to be on layaway. I didn't feel that I needed to compromise quality with affordability. I wanted to offer more than a wrap dress or polyester prints. Once you understand the challenges you can overcome them. That's the key. You must know why there is a problem before you can fix it. You can't go in thinking, 'I can do what they do.' I came in saying, 'I can do what they can't do.' I decided to face the challenge and move curvy fashion forward. "