Changing The Outdoors From The Inside Out: A conversation with Andrea Kelly of Make Plus Equal

Life in Motion

In this episode, we chat with Andrea Kelly from Make Plus Equal. For years, Andrea faced challenges in finding outdoor gear that catered to her body for various adventures. Whether it was inadequate sizing, a lack of technical features, or uninspiring color choices, the struggle was real. The turning point came when a study revealed that 69% of women in North America were plus-sized. By then, Andrea, already entrenched in the outdoor apparel industry, seized the opportunity to be the change she sought. In 2015, she committed herself to advocating for size inclusion in outdoor apparel, leveraging her industry experience to make a difference. Andrea educates and guides brands to embrace a more diverse customer base, fostering inclusivity from within. Her efforts have reshaped industry perspectives on inclusivity, leading brands to create specialized products and revamp their marketing to cater to everyone, regardless of size. If you've ever wondered about taking small steps to effect significant change or learning how an industry can be reshaped, then this one's for you!

Life in Motion is brought to you by Actual Outdoors. They help build beautiful brands that highlight the approachable and authentic parts of outdoor recreation. Said simply - they “keep it real”.

Find them online at actualoutdoors.com or on Instagram at @actualoutdoors. Tweet us and let us know what you think of this episode! @illuminecollect

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Since 2017 Illumine has donated over $35,220 to outdoor nonprofits and shared over 186 stories on the Life in Motion Podcast.