Mallorie Dunn, Smart Glamour: Creating affordable, inclusive, and size-inclusive clothing for all

Companies That Care

The Companies that Care podcast highlights companies and business leaders who are making a difference in the world, like Mallorie Dunn, founder of Smart Glamour in New York City. Mallorie has been interested in clothing her whole life. She attended the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Pratt Institute.

She found that corporate fashion was not her cup of tea. Mallorie also began noticing how badly women and femme people feel about themselves in their bodies…and how difficult it can be for people to find clothes that fit them well and are made well.

She started Smart Glamour in 2014, a customizable, ethical fashion brand based on the idea that everyone deserves clothing that is not exploitative of the people that make it. Smart Glamour’s size chart goes from XS to 15X and beyond. All of the clothing is customizable to sizes above and below that chart.

During the pandemic, she sewed masks and offered them for pay what you will. She started a podcast interviewing her models and other makers. She also shares videos of her making things or giving sewing tips. She’s also a part-time professor at The New School and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Mallorie feels strongly about providing all types of clothing for plus-size people, customized to fit as needed. “The majority of people are plus size in this country, yet they are vastly underserved. Once you get above 3X and especially once you get above 6X, people do not have options."

To make her business processes sustainable, Mallorie makes everything to order. She purchases most of her fabrics from local family-owned discount fabric stores. Most of it is overstock. She uses every scrap of her fabric, holding leftovers for what she calls Smart Glamour surprises.

Mallorie also is committed to producing affordable, ethically made clothing.

On Smart Glamour’s website, you can shop by model… from models who are of all sizes, heights, ages, and abilities.

Mallorie has integrated social impact into her business by creating products that benefit nonprofits.

Check out Mallorie’s website and her podcast, and pass it on! Everyone deserves to feel beautiful and included in fashion!

I alternate the Companies That Care podcast with my original podcast, Finding Fertile Ground, which shares personal stories of grit and resilience. On both my podcasts I strive to highlight voices from historically excluded populations, people who don't always get a platform.

The Companies That Care podcast is brought to you by Fertile Ground Communications. If you like what you hear or read, wander through my website to find out more about my work.

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