Cinched Collections

Cinched Collections - Business Summary
“Curated and designed with curvy women of color  in mind!”

FUBU, Baby Phat, and Phat Farm were a few notable brands in the 1990s-2000s that targeted and resonated with people of color. These clothing lines all had a significant impact on the fashion industry and African-American culture because they identified with an underserved market in a relatable way.

According to an article from Black Men in America, “African Americans are one of the leading consumers in the US at $1.2 trillion spent annually”. However, there aren’t many brands or clothing lines that are specifically catered to this niche market. Plus size women over a size 10 alone spend about $20 billion on apparel, cited by Thinknum Alternative Data.

Women of color tend to have curvy, more voluptuous bodies. Cinched will serve as an e-commerce women’s apparel line that is specifically designed for this minority body type. Bottoms will be created with additional inches for women with prominent butts, hips, and thighs. Tops are to be made with extended room for busts; including buttons constructed in the inside of plackets so that shirts won’t gape. Dresses will combine both space and stretch for busts and hip areas. Cinched clothing will be made with comfort and functionality!

This brand will also include apparel made with waist shaping support in certain dresses that accentuate the waist. Select styles will also feature built-in bra support. This will provide lift for items that require strapless bras such as strapless tops, dresses, and styles with thin straps. Women of color tend to be bustier and are often hindered when wearing strapless tops and dresses. The built-in bra support will provide women with added support and lift to wear trendy items with confidence.

This line is created with curvy women at the forefront to cater to an underserved market. There is such a disparity between plus size and straight sizes in the market with most retailers specializing in one or the other. This brand will be diversified by including sizes S-4XL at the same prices. Cinched will distinguish itself by providing curvy women with clothing that is specifically designed for their unique body types. This clothing line will also promote natural, curvaceous bodies as a means to enhance self-esteem in minority women.

Cinched will be launching April 2021!

https://cinchedcollections.com/
Instagram @cinchedcollections

Funding Narrative
The primary need for funding stems from the cost of clothing design and production (fabrication, pattern making, grading, marking, fit samples, production samples, labels and tags, quality assurance, etc). Mass production for my brand will ideally be executed by US vendors, if I am able to negotiate feasible costs. If not, I will work with top-quality international manufacturers. I will be working with a black-owned, NYC based design and product development company. In working with a black owned design company, they will understand the overall brand identity and need for fit standards to be perfected. This company will need to be compensated for their consulting expertise and design labor.

I will also invest heavily on e-commerce and marketing expenses. As an e-commerce retailer, my brand will have monthly site fees to keep the site running efficiently. I will also outsource through ShipStation to ease the shipping process. 

The Cinched clientele is a very active market on social media. I will allocate about 20-30% of my budget to marketing expenses from search engine optimization, digital advertisements, email services, and paid marketing. I want to ensure that my brand gets massive exposure online and social media through platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Meet the Owner
I, Ashley Joyner, have studied and worked in fashion merchandising and product development for eight years. I specialize in retail buying and product development. I have worked for various women’s department stores and specialty retailers, including plus size brands.

Working as a minority in the fashion corporate setting comes with many obstacles; but it also builds character, endurance, and strengthens your work ethic. We as minority women in the fashion industry are often subjected to various forms of discrimination and toxicity from unfair pay wages to social alienation. My goal is to promote a healthy and supportive work environment for all employees! Cinched will open doors by outsourcing and employing individuals of various backgrounds, especially people of color. My goal from a work perspective, will be to reduce burnout rates and increase cultural acceptance within the workplace.

Your contribution will be greatly appreciated and help bring my vision to life!

*All donors will receive 15% off and one free styling/wardrobe consultation*

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