I have come to believe that what happens on and around the opening day of New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is auspicious. In addition to auguring fall and winter trends, the shows and events tell a story about the state of fashion. I’m not ashamed to admit I was a little queasy. As a plus-size woman, I was expecting to feel the icy cold shoulder of an industry that seems to have forgotten its once ubiquitous calls for disruption and size inclusivity.

Instead, on NYFW eve I found myself very much un-queasy at 143 Ludlow Street on New York City’s Lower East Side, precariously balancing a raspberry paloma while slithering between fellow plus-size fashionistas toward racks of beetle-printed crop tops, baby pink full-length puffer jackets, and black mesh, full-length, ruffled negligees. We were all there to celebrate Tamara Malas, and the grand opening of her first-ever brick-and-mortar shop of the same name.

Long-time plus-size fashion advocate, Nicolette Mason, remarked, “It’s such an incredible milestone to celebrate (Malas’) store opening during New York Fashion Week. At a time when so many brands are scaling back their extended and plus-size lines, it feels really special to have a physical, real life space where people can come together, celebrate personal style, and actually touch and feel clothes they can wear, in a space where inclusivity is actually foundational to the ethos, not an afterthought. I know the shopping experience here is going to be really revelatory and affirming to a lot of people.”

Plus-size fashion expert and consultant, Sarah Chiwaya, hosted the opening event, and commented, “I’ve been a fan of Tamara Malas since she first launched her label. There was nothing else like her designs on the market then, and she still is making fashion forward pieces that set the trends instead of following them. As a plus-size shopper, all too often I have to wait until months or years to have access to the type of cool designs I want. So Tamara Malas was a welcomed addition to the scene.”

Originally from Laguna Beach, California, Malas is a fashion design graduate from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a background in sculpture and painting. She founded her namesake brand in 2018. At that time, the shop was online and only carried styles in plus-size. Now Malas has expanded her line of ethical handmade garments to include sizes zero through 36. Malas says that after five years online she’s proud to have a physical space, especially when so much of plus-size fashion has become an online-only experience.

“We’re proud to offer a haven where you can touch, try on, and truly experience our clothes,” said Malas. “Our store is more than just a shopping destination. It’s a place where you can enjoy a sense of belonging and celebrate your unique style.”

In fact, she opened the brick-and-mortar location in hopes of improving the overall shopping experience. “We know what it feels like to be excluded just based on the size printed on a silly label,” Malas said. “Now you can shop somewhere where every item comes in a fully inclusive size range. We will never use words in the store like ‘flattering’ or ‘slimming.’ This is about having a place that feels safe while also feeling like the super fun closet your younger self always dreamed of.”

Memory plays a major role in how and what Malas designs. “One of the common threads in my work is nostalgia,” said Malas. “I often find myself chasing feelings from the past that I wish to duplicate and try to translate those moments into wearable items.”

The shop’s location is even attached a special memory.

During her first trip to New York City fifteen years ago she and her father got lost in the Lower East Side at night. “We found ourselves walking in circles and eventually stumbling upon an eclectic boutique with floor-to-ceiling windows and raw concrete floors. It was well lit, and had a unique feel. My dad looked in and turned to me and said, ‘I hope you have a store like this one day!’” That shop was just two blocks from 143 Ludlow.

Malas says she’s not interested in reneging on her commitment to fashion for all. “We don’t see inclusivity as a trend and it’s disheartening at times to see the climate of the industry as a whole, especially in plus-size fashion,” Malas shared. “We do our best to contribute what we can, in our own way, to our small corner of the universe.”

The Tamara Malas store will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 12 to 7pm, and Mondays by appointment only. The shop includes styles by Tamara Malas as well as a small, curated collection from other designers including Boyko, Fashion Brand Company Lauren Perrin, Uyesurana and Kina and Tam.