Clothing Brand Part & Parcel Is Launching Its Own Plus-Sized Talent Agency

Part & Parcel is all about inclusion, celebration, and connection. The fashion brand, which launched this year and includes clothing and shoes, uses an affiliate model to foster connection and financial success for women sizes 14 through 36, calling itself a "side hustle for plus size women." The line also features what they call Dimensional Sizing™, which adds extra dimensions to places like the bust, bicep, waist, or calves. Followings its success, Part & Parcel has just launched a new endeavor: Part & Parcel Talent, a modeling agency exclusively for plus-size models.

Part & Parcel Talent was created not only to increase representation for plus-size people everywhere and give brands a place to source plus models, but also to give plus women the opportunity to earn extra income. The models are free to work with any plus brands and agencies they choose, and Part & Parcel provides them with modeling classes, travel arrangements, and more.

The idea for Part & Parcel Talent was actually born out of our own struggles finding plus-size models to showcase our apparel and footwear," said CEO and founder Lauren Haber Jonas in an interview with Teen Vogue. "Part & Parcel designs clothes in sizes 14-36 and caters to a diverse range of body shapes and sizes that represent real women, yet when looking for models for our own shoots, we couldn’t find a modeling agency that represented models above a size 22, with body shapes that represented real women. As it turns out, most brands were facing similar issues and no one had done anything about it — so we did. We believe that Part & Parcel Talent will encourage other brands to start booking models of all body shapes, sizes and ethnicities that represent real women."

Jonas hopes that Talent will increase visibility for plus women. "Having been plus since I was 10 years old, I’m acutely aware of the way that fashion has historically ignored the plus community. Forced to wear maternity clothes to my 6th grade graduation speech and Joseph A. Bank suits to my internship interviews, not only did I lack the trendy clothes a lot of my friends got to wear, but I rarely saw women who looked like me featured in magazines or on TV," she said. "I want to change that for the next generation of women by increasing the visibility of real bodies and championing the notion that plus-size fashion really isn’t one-size-fits-all."

The brand is starting out with 15 models and hopes to sign 100 by December of 2020. "Having 15 gorgeous plus-size women of a variety of shapes and sizes and ethnicities and ages all come together and celebrate their bodies was something I never could have imagined becoming a reality. I could not be more excited to share this with the entire fashion community and start building a more inclusive and diverse world with these ladies leading the charge."

Model Kat Stroud is one of the 15, and has long been a fan of the brand. "To work with Part & Parcel Talent has truly been remarkable and I'd also say a landmark moment in and of itself," she said. "There isn't another agency out there like them that is saying yes — give us the diversity because that's what people want. People want diversity, they want to see bodies like theirs being unapologetic and fabulous. Part & Parcel Talent is giving us that foothold. Look out world, there is no stopping us now and we are demanding our seat at the table!"

LaKesha Phillips, another model, agrees that Part & Parcel Talent is going to make a major difference in the fashion world. "The impact of the agency has already begun — enticing brands to elevate the conversation and broaden the standards surrounding beauty and body inclusivity. But the biggest shift I hope to see is in the eyes of every woman and girl who looks at us, sees themselves, and is, therefore, able to dream bigger, love stronger, grow taller, and fight harder for her rightful space in a world where she thrives!"

Interested in modeling for Part & Parcel Talent? "We welcome any plus-size woman who is interested in modeling to reach out to us, whether she’s long dreamed of modeling, or thinking about it for the very first time," Jonas said. To start, visit their website and fill out an application. "[You may] be joining a community of empowered, confident women who are ushering in a new era of body positivity in fashion, media, and beyond."

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue