How I Built This with Guy Raz HIBT Lab! Universal Standard: Polina Veksler
Aug 11, 2022
Polina Veksler, Co-founder and CEO of Universal Standard, shares her inspiring journey from an immigrant in Russia to a fashion advocate committed to size inclusivity. She discusses the shocking realization that most women wear larger sizes yet have limited clothing options. The conversation dives into the challenges of securing funding in the fashion industry and emphasizes the $100 billion market opportunity for size-inclusive brands. Polina reveals how Universal Standard is redefining beauty standards while innovating around quality and customer loyalty.
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Shopping Trip Revelation
- Polina Veksler's friend, Alex Waldman, highlighted the lack of size-inclusive clothing options during a shopping trip.
- This experience sparked the idea for Universal Standard.
Plus-Size Market Gap
- Most fashion brands cater to straight sizes, limiting options for plus-size women.
- Plus-size clothing tends to be fast fashion: ill-fitting, poorly made, and lacking style diversity.
Size Inclusivity Statistics
- 70% of American women wear size 14 and above, yet most brands stop at size 12 or 14.
- The average American woman is a size 18, revealing a significant market gap.