Akademik

   The women's size range that caters to women who wear sizes 14 to 28. This segment of the women's clothing market accounts for only 19 percent of sales, while recent bodyscanning data and other surveys indicate that approximately two-thirds of American women are size 14 and up. In the early 1980s, manufacturers and retailers finally realized the plus-size market was significantly underserved, leading it to soon become the fastest-growing market segment. Historically, many designers have shied away from the plus-size market for fear of losing brand image. However, customers have pressured retailers and they in turn pressured designers to start offering fashionable plus-size clothing. Beginning in the 1990s, companies like Liz Claiborne (Liz), Givenchy (Givenchy En Plus), Tommy Hilfiger, Old Navy, Wal-Mart, and Target, as well as some manufacturers have either spun-off new plus-size divisions or increased their size assortment. Lane Bryant, now a division of Charming Shoppes, is the leading retailer of women's plus-size clothing in the United States and Fashion Addition is the largest plus-size clothing and accessories retailer in Canada. In 2001, two retailers addressed the newest segment of the plus-size category, the junior plus size. Specialty retail chain Hot Topics launched Torrids and a new direct retailer known as Turnstylz offered trendy fashion for the tween-to-preteen age range.