The Curvy Fashionista Presents The Cultivate Award with Founding Sponsor ELOQUII

NEW YORK , January 26 /Businesswire/ - ELOQUII, the pioneering brand for fashion in sizes 14 to 28, is announcing it’s the founding sponsor of The Cultivate Award, presented by The Curvy Fashionista (TCF). The Cultivate Award is an initiative that supports and nurtures the next generation of BIPOC indie designers in the plus-size fashion community.

The inaugural Cultivate Award will allow eligible BIPOC designers to apply for the opportunity to win a $10,000 grant, a one-year professional mentorship program, and the designer’s very own capsule collection for consideration to be produced and sold on ELOQUII.com in 2022. The two runners-up will each be awarded a $2,500 scholarship grant and additional prizes. A “Voter’s Choice” winner will also be selected by the public.

A panel of notable and established judges—Lindsay Peoples Wagner (The Cut Editor-in-Chief, former Teen Vogue Editor-in-Chief, Black in Fashion Council Co-founder), Timothy Snell (celebrity stylist), Liris Crosse (first plus-size model winner of Project Runway), and Yesenia Torres (ELOQUII’s Director of Design)—will evaluate designers based on criteria including inspiration, originality, innovation and aesthetic. With The Cultivate Award, TCF and ELOQUII hope to help BIPOC indie designers bring their visions to life and build thriving businesses.

“I’ve been looking for ways to create a lasting impact on the plus-size community, and The Cultivate Award is one of them,” said Marie Denee, creator and Editor in Chief of The Curvy Fashionista. “We’ve been seeking designer collaborations with indies in our community for years, and it was particularly important for this program to be centered around BIPOC indie designers, as they’ve been the creative force behind plus-size fashion.”

To apply, up-and-coming BIPOC designers that fit the criteria of serving a plus-size (size 14+) audience for at least two years can submit an application at thecurvyfashionista.com/events/the-cultivate-awards. Submissions will be reviewed by the judges on a rolling basis through March 1, 2021. Finalists will be notified ahead of a live-streamed finale event in May, where the ultimate winner, the “Voter’s Choice” winner and two runners-up will be announced.

“ELOQUII was the ideal partner because, at its core, The Cultivate Award is about having the right tools to impact the foundation of a designer’s business,” said Denee. “It is just as important to have the winner design a capsule collection as it is for them to be mentored and shown how a design business operates. Having access to resources like cash, counsel and the tools to scale will help ensure these businesses flourish.”

“At ELOQUII, we’re working to elevate BIPOC designers by giving them a platform to create beautiful, fresh designs that offer great style and fit,” said Mariah Chase, CEO of ELOQUII. “In partnership with Marie Denee and in presenting The Cultivate Award, we aim to initiate positive change through the transformative power of fashion by introducing new emerging BIPOC designers and their businesses.”

For more information, please visit www.ELOQUII.com and www.TheCurvyFashionista.com.

ABOUT THE CURVY FASHIONISTA

The Curvy Fashionista is a leading plus-size digital media platform focused on uplifting, supporting, and styling every woman who knows that her size has absolutely nothing to do with her style. Created in 2008 by Marie Denee, The Curvy Fashionista is a virtual home for the Curvy.Confident.Chic. plus-size woman who loves to keep it curvy while exploring the latest in fashion, beauty and tech. Every woman can be stylish, chic, and abounding in curves. From sharing shopping secrets to empowering women to live free in the skin they’re in, The Curvy Fashionista has become the inclusive inspiration for plus-size women around the world. To join the Curvy Fashionista family, please visit TheCurvyFashionista.com and @thecurvyfashionista.

ABOUT ELOQUII

ELOQUII is the ultimate fashion destination for sizes 14-28. The pioneering e-commerce destination debuts new, trend-leading collections multiple times a month and features merchandise categories including apparel, swim, wide width footwear and accessories. Their in-house design teams are obsessed with fit, and use proprietary data as well as customer feedback to ensure every single style is perfectly sized. ELOQUII offers customers access to unique content through its Style & Substance platform and has created an online community through its #XOQ hashtag, which allows customers to tag themselves to the Company's site via Instagram. In 2020, ELOQUII launched ELOQUII Unlimited, a clothing rental service giving customers access to a rotating dream closet, and debuted ELOQUII Elements, a new brand of perfectly priced everyday fashion sold exclusively at ELOQUII.com, Walmart.com and select Walmart stores. ELOQUII believes in the ability to create positive change through the transformative power of fashion. To join the community, please go to www.eloquii.com and @eloquii.

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