beautiful All Eyez On…Marina Zelner - by Marcy Cruz (continued) pect because that is one of our bigger problems, trying to find flattering clothes that fit us well. But it’s not only about that. It’s like you said, we need more women out there to speak to those women that are in those self-loathing states and tell them you’re beautiful too. I feel I am making a difference because I’m out here talking to women on the Belle-Noir blog weekly, not talking to just size. So I think it’s very interesting because, for me, I don’t see anyone who looks like me out there. But I’m okay with that because I recognize that we are not going to get everything in a day. One day at a time. One obstacle at a time. When it gets down to it, we’re all women. Our sizes don’t define us.
Marina:
Makes sense. I know you and I have talked about this before. We are increasing the sizes that we offer. In the Spring, we are already going up to a size 26.
Marcy: I am so excited! Marina: We’ll see. Because we also have to
keep in mind that we’re not the company that just adds fabric and calls it a larger size. We want the fashion to be complimentary to the body. There’s just a matter of researching and making sure that the fit is right, the quality of the fabric is right, the production is right. We take all of these issues seriously. So we continue our gradual growth in as far as the sizes and what the customers are looking for. And it has been an incredible journey, I gotta tell you. The important thing for us is that it’s been great and we will complete our full cycle this June when we come back to New York for Full Figured Fashion Week 2012. But 2011 was the year of discovery; it was the year of learning what the customer truly wants. It was a year of, kind of, finding our voice. And it’s really wonderful to see such a tremendous response and support from the community and more and more women. There’s been so many articles that have come out and we talk about our brands and we talk about me as the foundp.16 | Belle-Noir Magazine, January/February 2012 MAGAZINE |
er of the company. And it’s nice because we’re also involved in this whole revolution. It’s like you said, I don’t know when the change will happen or how long it’s going to take us but just to be a part of it is incredible.
Marcy:
I remember when I first met you, that’s what impressed me the most. Do you remember when we met in LA (Full Figured Fashion Week LA – October 2010)?
Marina: Yes! I was with Judge Karen. (Judge Karen Mills-Francis, TV personality/judge)
Marcy:
I was just so blown away at the fact that you were asking me questions – I thought to myself, she really cares what I think! Usually you get a lot of designers who don’t want to talk to someone my size. That’s not who their customer is in their mind. Their customer is usually below a 22. An 18 would be perfect. So when you were asking me questions and I’m with Rosie (Rosie Mercado, plus size model and actress), I was just so blown away and I thought to myself, when this woman comes out with her collection, I am going to be so supportive. I didn’t feel excluded. So thank you for that.
Marina:
Marcy, we are working on it. We just want to get it right. Because the last thing I want is to come out with pieces that you would say, well yeah, they are available in my size but what good is that if they don’t fit right?
Marcy: Exactly. So, what made you decide to become a plus size fashion designer?
Marina: Well, you don’t just wake up one morn-
ing and say, okay, I’m a designer now. And I think I approach this a lot more from a business perspective. I am the one that is growing this company and I am the one who has started it. I have an incredible creative team. And my input, as far as the design goes, is in every little element whether it’s the selection of the fabrics or sketches or the execution. Anything having Visit www.belle-noir.com