Today we’d like to introduce you to Maura Hampton.
Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
Ethical Bodies was born from my love of thrifting. I’ve always had a love for the hunt! Every trip to the thrift store is like a mini treasure hunt. Nothing beats getting an outfit compliment and responding, “thanks, it was thrifted.” Interestingly, most people follow up that statement with something like, “I never find things like that when thrifting” or, “thrift stores overwhelm me, and I rarely find anything in my size.” I have always been plus size and can understand the struggle of not being able to find things in my size when shopping. Not only at thrift stores but at most major retailers. It sucks when you walk into a store or local pop-up, and the only you can buy are accessories because none of the clothing is offered in your size.
I wanted to change that for fellow plus-sized folks, so in August 2020, I launched Ethical Bodies: a shop that caters explicitly to sizes XL-4x+. It was important to sell a mix of vintage and modern pieces because I love mixing old and new! I also wanted to promote secondhand shopping as much as possible in the plus-size community. For the last two years, I have primarily sold items via Instagram and at local pop-ups. I’ve been blown away by the positive feedback I’ve received about my curated finds and have found such a fantastic community of support. In September of this year, I launched my website and filed for an LLC, making things much more official!
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been challenges, but the positive outweighs the negative regarding this little shop. I am learning as I go, which can sometimes be frustrating, but I have learned so much in the last two years. I am proud of myself for building a website! I had no experience in web design and relied on YouTube to make it happen.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Ethical Bodies specializes in curating quality vintage and modern clothing for sizes XL-4x+. Our mission is to empower plus-size women to shop secondhand. I dig for you and curate fun, vibrant, and unique pieces! When browsing, you can find styles from the 70s-Y2k and modern brands like ASOS, Eloquii, and Madewell. We carry a mix of statement pieces and classic staples that never go out of style! I am proud of creating a safe space for fellow plus-size people to shop. The number of times people have said, “thank you for doing this,” is wild! Brands need to be more intentional about inclusive sizing.
Pricing:
- $20-$100
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ethicalbodies.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethicalbodies/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ethicalbodies?lang=en
