The first drop of six items for Blueki is focused on classic knitwear —with modern updates, such as lacing or cutouts—that are all made-to-order in New York, with sizes from an XXS to 6X. Prices range from $285 for the lace-up Bonnie corset top, to $350 for the sleek Emi turtleneck dress. “I did a lot of research on where brands stop, and most plus-size brands stop at a 3X,” says Nu. “Brands want to be inclusive, but they only want to be inclusive for the smaller end of plus-size. And there’s a lot of argument around if that’s even plus -size.”
Photo: Courtesy of Blueki
All of the pieces are made by the 3-D knitwear factory Tailored Industry in Brooklyn. According to the factory, the manufacturing process creates less than 1 percent of excess material per garment. Nu chose the factory as they were also open to collaborating on the fit. “For the knitwear pieces, we graded them differently for plus-size, mid-size, and straight size,” says Nu. “All of the garments look great on everyone, but they’re personalized to the different size ranges.”
Her experience working as a model for 13 years helped her step into the role of designer. “When I was in L.A., I was working for all the top plus-size [brands],” she says. “I saw all the styles, the quality, how they fit—and some of it was very ugly. Now, I can go into a factory and say, ‘We need to add three inches to the hip, or we need a back panel for boob support.’ I’m thinking of all the things that have been missing for me over the years.”
Source: Vogue
