Curve Fashion Festival Heads For Manchester

WHEN model Myla Delbasio wriggled on a famous pair of Calvin Klein boxer shorts for the camera lens, chances are she knew her body was going to cause a media storm.

Fuller in the bust and the thigh area, Delbasio is by model standards ‘plus-sized’ and the first of ‘her kind’ to join the leagues of Kate Moss, Jourdann Dunn and David Beckham on billboards and advertisements.

There's always that danger of alienating people and models when you give them a label

Yet by our standards  - regular ol’ you and me - size ten Delbasio is by no means ‘plus’ figured.

You’d be forgiven if by looking at a svelte Delbasio (see below) that you have a skewed idea of what’s really fat or thin.

And here goes another body-image fuelled online controversy.

Plus-sized?

Now hash-tag #DropThePlus joins #beachbodyready in the leagues of body issues that really grinds our gear, with the fashion industry taking the brunt of the body confidence campaigners' backlash.

A collection of campaigners and models have called for the industry to #droptheplus to stop any confusion of what being plus-sized really means – often dropping trouser and flaunting curves (or lack there of) to demonstrate.

Yet is plus-sized really such a dirty word? 

Like most words or phrases that have been historically used as word-weaponry, victims have chosen to adopt the words and make it their own. Plus-sized may be one of them.

"People in the plus-sized industry don't mind the term," says Zoe Ellis-Pennick, Director of The Curve Fashion Festival,"as long as there's no negativety attached to it."

Model and campaigner Tess Holliday will be at The Curve Fashion Festival

Fashion stylist Ellis-Pennick is bringing a brand new fashion event, The Curve Fashion Festival to Manchester Central on the 26 September 2015. She's set on the new festival becoming the largest plus-size event in the UK. She says 'plus-sized' is a term that should be embraced.

"There's always that danger of alienating people and models when you give them a label, but right now we've so much media attention and a wider conversation about plus-sized fashion - it seems people are ready for it and an event like this."

Face of the Curve festival, model Fluvia Lacerda

The Curve Fashion Festival will be an all-day event and will showcase the very best of plus size fashion. Attendees will have the chance to shop in the fashion hall, view catwalk shows, attend body confidence seminars and meet star guests.

Most importantly, The Curve Fashion Festival aims to highlight that plus size trends have a place in the mainstream fashion industry.

"We found that there's all these amazing designers who aren't able to showcase at London Fashion Week. We want to show that plus-sized fashion is fashionabe. Everyone should have the opportunity to showcase their work," explains Ellis-Pennick. 

She adds: "It will be a shopping haven, with retailers you know and many you don't know from as far afield as Australia."

Over 50 high street and independent retailers are expected to trade at the event, including brands Lovedrobe and Elvi. There will also be a champagne bar, pop-up restaurant and onsite spa for guests to enjoy.

The ‘Face of the Festival’ is internationally acclaimed plus-size model Fluvia Lacerda (who has modelled for Vogue) and various celebrities will be in attendance on the day, including David Hasselhof's daughter and celebrated plus-sized model Hayley Hasselhoff. 

Plus-sized model Hayley Hasselhof wul be attending

Globally acclaimed plus size model and Body Positive Activist, Tess Holliday will also attend The Curve Fashion Festival. With an Instagram following of over 600,000, Holliday was recently signed by MiLK Model Management and is 'changing the face of the modern fashion industry, while continuing to inspire and empower women around the world'. She also has coined her own hashtag: #effyourbeautystandards. 

It's clear many are keen to celebrate the curvier woman in fashion. Again, with the subject of diversity always at the focal point in the fashion conversations, an event celebrating plus-sized designers and the models is much needed. But why here in Manchester?

"Manchester has a developing fashion industry with brands such as Boohoo and Missguided. We really wanted to take the event out of London and Manchester made so much sense."

Tickets start from £7.50. Find out more on the website.