The Project With No Name…




You probably already saw the teasers I shared on Facebook and Instagram since January 17. In case you didn’t know…  I have been taunting the community of the blog with a new, upcoming, very exciting project.

I am still very early in the life of this young project. So early that it doesn’t have a name yet! (We have started to think about it, though…) After discussing with my partner in this adventure, Chantale,  we have decided to start slowly spreading the news.

plus-size travel friendly clothing collection plus-size backpacker

Chantale Beauregard and I first connected through Instagram last fall and exchanged a few messages before we decided to meet face to face. To try to figure out how we could mutually help each other, you know…

After a second meeting together, earlier this year, we realized something. We both craved the same thing. And we were both looking in the same direction. As I risked asking her what she had in mind – while, at the same time, “confessing” my secret dream! -, we realized that we both shared had the same burning desire…

TO CREATE A COLLECTION OF PLUS-SIZE TRAVEL CLOTHES.


Who Is Chantale?

She’s the brain behind Montreal-based brand Noushka Collection. She fell in love with sewing as a little girl and started learning through her maternal grandmother’s watchful eyes and best tips. She’s mostly self-taught in the art of sowing, but followed – and still follows – course to stay on top of trends and techniques.

Each fabric is a potential project Edith Chantale plus-size travel friendly clothing collection plus-size backpackerand every idea deserves to be considered.
Every body is beautiful and has features that deserve to be highlighted.
This is what I want to do.
It’s the mission I want to accomplish.
-Chantale Beauregard

From lingerie and swimsuits to dresses and uniforms, her experiences – and pattern collection! – are impressive. And her motivation and desire to succeed are only comparable to mine.


What’s Plus-Size Travel Friendly Clothes…?

That is where my expertise comes into play. It’s been almost 10 years since I started traveling. And in the past five years, it was mostly with a carry-on backpack as only luggage. And since carry-on luggage allowance is not proportionate to a traveler’s size and weight, well… I learned to be creative when it comes to packing for a 3-week adventure in a country that has an impressive range of weather and temperatures. (Hello Peru.)

plus-size travel friendly clothing collection plus-size backpacker

Through that, I have developed an eye for identifying what makes an item of clothing practical – or not – when it comes to packing light. And through my partnership with Chantale, I plan on taking this skill to the next level. By contributing to developing the right clothes, made out of the right fabric, to fit the needs of plus-size female travelers. I want to translate into something real clothing that will combine cuteness, style and versatility. And make it available for as many women as we can, with our (still modest) means.

Oh, and have I mentioned that…
We are planning on going up to at least a size 6X? 


“Travel light. Whatever your size.”

Since 2013, this has been the motto of this blog. Through the years, I have added occasional activism to this blog’s topics of choice. But rest assured. My first passion remains traveling. And writing about travel tips, destinations. And test new clothes, gear and gadgets.

plus-size travel friendly clothing collection plus-size backpacker

To me, this new project is the next logical step in making plus-size travel more accessible to women. And to allow my fellow fat female traveler to travel lighter than ever.

There is definitely more to come as weeks and months will go by. Being of a rather impatient nature, I was (we were!) really thrilled to announce this and couldn’t really wait much longer!


Isn’t This Incredibly Exciting?

For me, it truly is. Because being part of a duo behind the creation of a plus-size travel clothes collection is one of the things I’ve dreamed of since… well, since not long after this blog was born. To accidentally run into someone like Chantale, as I wasn’t even looking for a partner and even less trying to make this dream come true, feels almost magical. On top of it, to find someone who’s as eager and enthusiastic as I am, well… what more could I ask for?

plus-size travel friendly clothing collection plus-size backpacker
All fabrics / prints appearing in this post are planned to be part of the (still) “nameless” collection…

Have Some To Share With Us About This?

Feel free to comment and share your ideas in the comment section of this post!
You can also contact me via the blog’s Contact page.

plus-size travel friendly clothing collection plus-size backpacker contact




10 Comments

  1. This is awesome! Excited to see the clothing selections you all make. Will it include clothing for outdoor travel as in hiking and backpacking clothes as well? It’s hard to find base layers and other light gear in plus size, and definitely harder to find them in cute patterns.

    • Thanks Brandie! 🙂
      Our priority is to make clothes that will be versatile enough to go out exploring during the day, then go out in a casual place at night.
      Fun fact: I was thinking about base layers as recently as last night in my bed. Though it’s not the priority for the moment, that’s clearly something I’m considering looking into. I’ll have to see with my partner too since she’s the one with all the technical and sewing skills!
      For sure, I want these clothes to pack as light as possible, yet allow you to feel feminine AND comfy while traveling. That’s what I have been looking for for years now, and since it’s hard to find a brand that consistently does that, well… I decided to try creating my own! 😉

  2. I am very pleased to hear that the sizes may go up to 6X (at least)! By so doing, there will be hundreds of thousands of women who can buy the stuff. So many manufacturers think it is peachy-keen to stop at 24, for example, leaving out a huge number of potential customers. OK, nobody knows how many that is, exactly. Decades ago, a reliable source estimated that there are at least 1,000,000 people in North America who weigh more than 500 lbs. (Nobody knows this because many of them avoid going out in public.) The number is probably double that now, after 5 decades of yo-yo dieting. Half are women. Tell me they (and their slightly smaller cousins) don’t need a 6X garment! At least!

    • I don’t even fit in some companies’ 4X (and most European plus-sizes), especially if it’s cut small, so there is no way I would put my name on something I can’t even fit it, haha!
      We are still working on the details to make this possible, but honestly, if I need to cut on the size range, I would personally chop from the bottom’s up, because people who wear a 1-2X, though they still have problems finding stuff they like in their size, have much more choice than those wearing a size 4-5-6X.
      We are still looking into how we’ll translate all that into reality, but the desire is there for sure, both for me and my accomplice in this project. 🙂

  3. This is fantastic! I’m not exactly “plus size” and I already can’t fit in some companies biggest trekking pants! I can’t even imagine how hard it must be for bigger women. I hate the too short shirts that show belly and it’s crazy there are no options (or hardly any) above XL. I have a few plus-size friends and I know how they struggle to find comfortable and/or active wear!

    Good luck, Edith, I hope you will make it big!
    Ioanna
    A Woman Afoot

    • Too short shirts are the WORSE! I totally feel you!
      I don’t know how far into “activewear” we’ll go, but in a spirit of versatility, I want to have pieces that will be useful for many activities, from a day in the backcountry to a relaxed night on the town!
      Thanks for your support Ioanna, every good word we get is fuel for the creation of this! 🙂

  4. I live this! However, I hope you’ll remember the petite round women among your potential customers. As a 5 foot tall plus-sized woman, it’s virtually impossible to find clothes that fit. Shoulders and necklines hang too low, waist lengths are too long, sleeves are like gloves and don’t get me started on leg lengths!

    • Hey Donna,
      We’ll do our best! 🙂 We have to keep in mind that the average height of women in Canada & USA is approx. 5 ft 4 (about 1,61 m). I am myself a 5 ft 8 woman, so I sometimes deal with the opposite of your problem…! 😉

  5. Ahahahahahahahah!!!!!!! I am soooooo excited!!! I am planning a long term trip and want to do it in a backpack but clothes is the number 1 thing I am terrified about! I dont have the option like most backpackers to switch clothing or just pick something up in most places. So what I bring has to be durable and cute and light and multi purpose. I am so excited. Though bnb I am assuming this project wont happen in the next 6 months, i still fully support it!

    • Thanks for your support Joy. We are so stoked about this project, but also about the reaction around it too!
      Cute, light and durable… That’s pretty much what we are going for. Oh and versatile too !
      We are just starting to develop our first prototypes at the moment. I might possibly take some on the road to Spain & Israel in April-May. I will keep the blog’s community fully inform on the development of this project – and, ideally, share pictures of our first pieces! – so stay tuned! 🙂

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