JCPenney has partnered with plus-size supermodel and entrepreneur Ashley Graham to create a namesake collection for full-figured women that is scheduled to launch this fall. The retailer has consistently offered products designed for a range of body types, andall of its private label brands are offered in extended sizes.
Graham, who made history as the first size 14 model to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swim in 2016, has advocated for self-acceptance and female empowerment as she leads the conversation about body diversity on the runway. She has hosted HGTV’s Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge and will host season two of Roku’s Side Hustlers alongside entrepreneur Emma Grede.
“This is something I’ve dreamed about for a long time,” said Graham in a statement. “JCPenney was a true champion for me right from the beginning, giving me one of my very first opportunities as a model. Now, to see JCPenney boldly embracing their role as a fashion leader for all body types feels incredibly powerful and inspiring.”
Even though fashion retail as a whole has had a mixed record when it comes to providing stylish clothing in extended and adaptive styles, in September 2024 JCPenney partnered with disabled writer and athlete Jamey Perry on a line of fashionable, functional apparel for women using wheelchairs.
Advertisement
In October 2021 Old Navy launched BODEQUALITY to redefine size inclusion by offering every one of its women’s styles in any size at no extra cost, but the retailer scaled back the offering in its stores just a few months later, according to Glossy. In December 2022 Torrid partnered with ThredUp to become the resale platform’s first plus-size brand, and in March 2023 H&M also launched extended apparel sizes in stores and online.
