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By Diane Spicer
Welcome to this AlpineCurves interview!
Finding quality outdoor clothing in women's plus sizes can be beyond frustrating, especially if you want to look great and beat the elements.
Kindra Roberts has experienced that frustration, and in response she gathered together some trailworthy choices for plus size hikers, snowshoers and other women who enjoy spending time in the great outdoors.
She calls it AlpineCurves!
AlpineCurves.com was a solution to a real life problem:
Who better to start a company for plus size outdoors women than someone who has experienced this frustration first hand, right?
You can view some great clothing choices for outdoor sports on the AlpineCurves website, but I hope you stick around to meet Kindra Roberts.
She's got a lot to say about the state of plus size outdoor clothes for female hikers, so let the Q & A begin!
NOTE: All photos were provided by Kindra Roberts.
When we first started AlpineCurves.com I had stumbled on a company called DSG Outwear. They ironically enough were a woman owned company based out of our home state, Wisconsin.
They offer a full line of snow and hunting gear.
The first time I ordered one of their snow jackets, I literally cried.
It truly was THE most technical snow jacket I had ever owned, I felt amazing in it!
It had all the features of other jackets I had drooled over but could never fit into. Not only was this jacket super technical, it also fit me to a T!!!
You could tell they took the time to really understand the sizing of a plus size woman.
They also offer adjustable inseams on all their pants (28.5”-32.5”), which for me I struggle with because my inseam is 32-34”.
Almost all the items we carry by DSG go up to 5X.
The second company I recently discovered this past year is Sportiveplus based out of Canada.
They have been in business for over 25 years and they specialize in manufacturing plus size clothing for women for every outdoor activity.
We are proud to say we are one of their first U.S. distributors.
I was truly impressed by the quality and workmanship of all the products we received in.
The sizing on all their products is spot on.
I was super excited to get their hiking pants; they were fitted but with a lot of give in the fabric and best of all they had great pockets!
This is an interesting question and one that makes me a bit sad.
I have been going to the Outdoor Retailers Show for the last couple years and every year I have my heart set on a few companies I plan on soliciting.
Repeatedly I am met with very curated responses as to why they will not be venturing into the plus size world.
I am sure this isn’t the answer any of them would give but I believe many outdoor brands do not want to associate themselves with what they believe is a less than appealing image.
Now the business response might be: it would be an expensive venture for many.
Even though the statistics are there to support the notion that there is a plus size market to be had, many larger corporations are unwilling to invest the money into something without knowing for sure that they will get a return.
This is my very nonscientific answer and more what my gut tells me.
My biggest motivation is hearing from the women and customers who shop at AlpineCurves.com.
I still get tears in my eyes every time someone reaches out to us to let us know they received their items and they actually fit!
The struggle is real, and I can appreciate where all these women are coming from because I myself struggle to find clothing that fits and functions the way I need it to.
It’s funny how many people do send us notes or call to just say thank you. Wow… that in and of itself is all the motivation I need.
When we were creating the concept for AlpineCurves.com the words that kept popping in my head and eventually became part of our mission statement was “everyday woman”.
I did a lot of research prior to creating AlpineCurves.com and discovered, “68% of American woman wear a size 14 or above” (George-Pakin, 2018).
This was crazy to me and I kept saying to my partner "I AM the everyday woman, I can’t possibly be the only large person out there who enjoys doing outdoor activities".
I used to struggle because I wanted to participate in different activities, but I was incredibly self-conscious.
Not only was I a plus sized woman but I also had nothing that fit me properly; I constantly thought people were looking at me and judging me.
It’s a horrible vicious cycle that unfortunately often prevented me from doing the things I loved.
I don’t ever want anyone to feel that way.
Part of being healthy is to stay active; the last thing a person should have to worry about is if their clothing will fit and function properly.
At AlpineCurves.com we are constantly looking for new brands and products that not only fit our customers but are of the same quality and technicality as our smaller counterparts.
AlpineCurves.com’s mission
is to be your single source for plus size clothing and gear that fit
the everyday woman, for her outdoor lifestyle.
AlpineCurves.com has been a labor of love for me; we are still what I would consider a small family run business.
My older brother is my business partner and I am so excited he took my silly dreaming seriously and believed in me when I approached him with my idea for AlpineCurves.com in 2017.
There are two parts about this business
that are my favorite.
One, it has allowed me the opportunity to meet
some really incredible people and spread some happiness and two, it
has allowed my brother and I to work together.
I find it all pretty
neat and pinch myself regularly :)
If there are any brand(s) or ideas your readers would like to see or share, we love the input. Please feel free to reach out to us!
It's been a pleasure to introduce you to AlpineCurves.
Thanks, Kindra, for making time for our Q & A session.
Hiking For Her's September 2019 giveaway features AlpineCurves!
From September 1st through the 30th, you have a chance to enter to win a gift certificate from this company.
It's fun to find women who are doing exciting things in the realm of female hikers, and to get to know them a bit.
Let Hiking For Her know if you'd like to see more interviews like this.
And send any comments or questions about this AlpineCurves interview.
Suggestions for any hiking and camping related topic you'd like to know more about are always welcome at Hiking For Her!
You are the whole reason this website exists :)
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Alpine Curves Interview With Kindra Roberts