L Catterton invests in plus-size brand BloomChic

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
Dec 20, 2022

Investment giant L Catterton announced on Monday an investment in plus-size digital retailer BloomChic. 

The investment is expected to position BloomChic to embark on its next stage of growth and further realize its vision of enabling mid- and plus-size women to easily find clothes that fit. In particular, it will leverage L Catterton's global consumer insights and operating capabilities to scale its operations. The size of the investment was not disclosed. 

Bill Hu, the founder and chief executive officer of BloomChic, said, "L Catterton has an impressive track record of helping companies to build iconic brands, broaden product suites, enter new geographic markets, and attract talent. We are thrilled to begin working together to better serve the global plus-size women's community.”

"There is a very real need for women of all sizes to be and feel seen, uplifted by fashion," added Freya Hu, the chief product officer of BloomChic. "It is our mission to fulfill this need. We are only at the start of our journey and are incredibly excited about what's to come.”

Established in 2021, BloomChic is a digital-first fashion and lifestyle destination established for modern women sized 10-30. To date, the company has garnered a strong following across multiple social media platforms, where it engages consumers.

It employs a data-driven product development process where it identifies trending colors, patterns, and fabrics with consideration for different body shapes and each material's properties. To assure customer satisfaction and efficiency, new offerings are produced and tested in very small batches. 

"BloomChic puts its customers at the center of everything it does," said Scott Chen, a managing partner of L Catterton. "This is evident not only from the range and quality of its products, but also the meaningful connections it has formed with customers and its culture of ensuring that the plus-size voice is heard. We look forward to partnering with its management team to deepen the brand's presence in the market and create greater value for its customers.”

L Catterton has previously invested in brands including Ba&sh; Just Over The Top (JOTT); Ganni; Sandro, Maje & Claudie Pierlot; Savage X Fenty; Sweaty Betty; and ThirdLove.

The firm's latest investment is significant, as in the U.S., approximately two-thirds of women wear clothes sized 14 and above, but less than half of the country's women's apparel market comprises such clothes and only around 2% of its women's apparel stores are dedicated to plus-size.