Canberra stylist Amy Abrahams understands the frustration that many plus-size women experience when shopping for clothing. The founder of Revel the Runway recalls the limited options available during last-minute shopping trips, a problem she says extends far beyond the nation's capital to shopping centres across Australia.
The movement for fashion inclusivity
Through her Instagram account @wearthedamndress and the groundbreaking Revel the Runway fashion show, Abrahams has spent years demonstrating that style shouldn't be determined by dress size. She believes everyone deserves access to fashionable clothing regardless of their body shape.
"The plus-size market has traditionally offered limited style categories," Abrahams explains. "While flowy, boho pieces have their place, many women want the same fashion options their size-eight friends enjoy."
According to Abrahams, the fashion landscape is gradually shifting toward normalising diverse body types rather than segregating plus-size clothing into separate, often less fashionable categories.
Revel the Runway returns bigger in 2026
Following a completely sold-out inaugural event earlier this year, presale tickets for the second Revel the Runway have just been released. Presented by The Female Leader, the fashion showcase will return on April 18, 2026, at a larger venue in the Kambri Precinct at Australian National University.
The event will feature clothing brands catering to women's sizes 12/14 through to 24, with models representing diverse ages, sizes and ethnic backgrounds. A dedicated shopping area will allow attendees to purchase runway pieces immediately after the show.
Featured brands include several Australian designers making waves in inclusive fashion. De Gail represents one of the newest entrants to the plus-size market, while Alkinaa offers classic yet edgy pieces with beautiful lace detailing.
Other participating labels include Melbourne boutique Oh Ramona, which stocks both American and Australian brands, Adelaide-based custom clothing brand Curvature, and returning favourites Why Not Sissy and Philosophy.
The data behind the demand
Research from fashion app Mys Tyler reveals compelling statistics about Australian women's clothing sizes. Data collected from over 32,000 app users aged 18 to 75 shows that the average Australian woman wears a size 16, with more than half (52.1%) of women wearing size 16 and above.
Despite these numbers, many mainstream fashion brands stop at size 14 or 16, and larger sizes often aren't available in physical stores. This creates a significant gap between consumer demand and retail offerings.
Abrahams emphasises that this issue affects most Australians directly or indirectly. "With over 50 percent of the female population being over a size 14, there are people that you know who are impacted by this," she notes.
She observes that conversations about changing one's body through diets or exercise are more common than discussions about the lack of clothing options for larger bodies. Abrahams believes this silence perpetuates the problem while normalising the struggle to find well-fitting, fashionable clothing.
Presale tickets for Revel the Runway are available through reveltherunwayinsider.eo.page, with general ticket sales commencing December 1. More information can be found on Instagram at @reveltherunway.
