New York City tastemakers gathered around Sadelles—one of Major Food Group’s most frequented haunts—mingling with fellow Manhannites over plates of Carbone’s spicy rigatoni.
Virtually everybody is sporting leather dresses, plunge necklines, or vibrant green matching sets.
What is this uniform you may ask? It’s Remi X Revolve.
The room was filled with social media influencers of all shapes and sizes, including Michael Mente, REVOLVE’s Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Raissa Gerona, REVOLVE’s Chief Brand Officer, Tayshia Adams, Kit Keenan, Paige Lorenze, Amanda Batula, Paige DeSorbo, Ciarra Miller, Camille Kostek, and more!
And of course, an abundance of Sadelle's famous mini hotdogs.
We gaze over to the woman of the hour. Her smile radiates confidence, her outfit screaming “I can do anything.”
This unstoppable girl boss is Ms. Remi Bader, a viral Tik Tok creator famous for disrupting the fashion industry through her hilarious commentary.
Remi has developed an incredible connection to her 2 million plus followers by using her platform to voice shared frustrations surrounding sizing and fitting for curvier and plus-size body types.
This has resulted in many brands asking to tap into her and her community’s feedback further, including global public brands such as Victoria’s Secret and Revolve.
Manhattan elite have convened to celebrate the launch of Remi X Revolve: Bader’s newest size-inclusive collaboration with the retailer, offering sizing from XXS to 3X.
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This is a pivotal moment in Revolve’s history, as it marks the first time the brand is extending sizing above an XL.
We sat down with the industry trailblazer herself to discuss her new line, and on a broader scale, how she is working to reform a historically exclusive industry.
In what ways has your online presence disrupted the fashion and apparel industry? How does this dismantle the notion that the influencer space is frivolous?
I believe my online presence has disrupted the fashion industry by calling out brands for their lack of size inclusivity. I use my platform to make others like me feel included and sense that they can feel confident and beautiful in whatever they wear. My role as a content creator has allowed me to make strides in the fashion industry by helping brands like PINK and Revolve change their company culture and the way in which they move forward making their clothing.
Many content creators have touched upon body representation, but you’ve remained at the forefront of this conversation. How have you been able to foster meaningful dialogue that actually resonates with your community?
I think one way I have been able to foster meaningful dialogue that actually resonates with people is the fact that I don’t really hold back with what I show on social media. I value my ability to be able to bring my followers along with me during some of my most vulnerable moments, which I think helps people realize they aren’t alone.
By disclosing your struggles with body image, you’ve inherently challenged the idea of a “body positive” creator. What are your thoughts on body neutrality, and how does this present a more realistic portrayal of your experiences?
I feel like a lot of people have put me into a box, but I don’t think that it is necessary to do so. I openly talk about my struggles with my body. I call attention to the bad and the good days. I think it's important to be honest with myself and my followers in order to keep the content I'm creating authentic.
You’re known for your “realistic” hauls which are equally as hilarious as they are informative. How have you managed to utilize humor to illustrate larger concerns about the fashion industry?
I think bringing in humor to whatever I do is just very authentic to who I am. I believe humor allows me to bring in an audience and keep them around to not only laugh with me but to discuss the larger concerns about the fashion industry. I think it’s important to sometimes bring humor into the conversation to realize that we don’t need to be so hard on ourselves.
While your brand messaging is focused on challenging the fashion industry, you’re simultaneously entrenched in it as a viral content creator/influencer. Can you talk a bit about this experience?
I am grateful for the opportunity to be a viral content creator. I think sometimes it has its negative moments, but without it, I wouldn’t be able to focus on challenging the fashion industry. My presence on social media has allowed me to make such changes.
How does your new REMI X REVOLVE line break free from the idea that fashion-forward is limited to a certain size?
REMI X REVOLVE is a collection that ranges from sizes XS to 4X, something Revolve has never done before. The pieces in the collection have plunging necklines and bold silhouettes which are usually details you see on smaller sizes. This line is encouraging anyone who wants to be on trend that they don’t need to be a specific size.
REMI X REVOLVE is based on size inclusivity. What does this term mean to you? How do you feel about the term plus-size?
I’m happy that REMI X REVOLVE is starting on the right track by offering extended sizes. I feel the same way about those terms as I do about the term “body positive,” which is that the words don’t personally bother me, but I don’t like the idea of being put in a box. I think it can be tricky when these labels that are meant to bring people into the fold sometimes end up further excluding those who still don’t fit into the box.
Revolve has been criticized in the past for only representing one type of girl. What has it been like working with the brand?
I’ve truly always wanted to wear their clothes, which is why this partnership felt like such a great opportunity. I’ve always liked their clothes, and now I’m able to put my own spin on designs and create pieces with my body shape in mind. It can be really discouraging not to be able to find certain things, or to find pieces I loved that wouldn’t fit me. I’m so excited that now I can give other people a chance to avoid those experiences.
In what ways do you hope REMI X REVOLVE will challenge the idea that a “Revolve Girl” needs to look a certain way?
I think my brand represents that the “Revolve Girl” can actually be anyone. All I want is for people to feel like they can wear this line no matter if they are an XXS or a 4X. I want people to focus on how the clothes fit them, not about how they fit the mold.
What is one piece of advice you would give to your 16-year-old self? What is one thing you hope to accomplish by the time you’re 30?
I would tell myself at 16 to stop stressing about my weight and what my body looks like all the time and that there is fashion for everyone no matter what size they are. I don’t like planning for the future, as all of this happened for me by doing the opposite, but I know only good things are to come!
Photography by: Daniel Yoon, Sansho Scott/BFA, courtesy of REVOLVE
