The market for women’s plus-size clothing has grown steadily.
“Women’s plus size apparel market revenue was valued at $23.6 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $37.4 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2026 to 2033,” according to data from Verified Market Reports.
CAGR, or compound annual growth rate, shows that the market will expand.
The report also shared some other key facts about the growing plus size women’s fashion market.
E-commerce channels are developing at the fastest pace, comprising more than 60% of sales and surpassing traditional points of sale.
The global plus size apparel market is projected to achieve a robust CAGR of approximately 7% between 2025 and 2033, driven by increasing awareness and demand for inclusive fashion.
North America currently dominates the market, accounting for over 35% of total revenue, with Europe and Asia Pacific following closely behind.
The expected growth of plus-size fashion highlights not only increased demand, but also the potential for retailers to innovate in sizing, pricing and the inclusive e-commerce experience.
The shift to online sales has been noticeable even as more traditional retailers, including Target, have expanded their in-store selections to include more size.
Target added a partnership with designer Kahlana Barfield Brown, and it was clear that inclusivity was a key component.
“From the beginning, Kahlana and the Target design team felt it was important to make the collection work for every body and feel amazing for women of every shape and size — and budget. All 120 items are available in sizes XXS-4X inclusive (in stores and on Target.com), with most items under $35,” the chain said in a press release.
However, Target and other retailers haven’t stopped the tide of plus-size sales moving online. This shift to online sales has forced Torrid, one of the leading retailers in the space, to close nearly 200 retail stores.
In June, Torrid shared a plan to close about 180 underperforming stores from its fleet of just over 620 stores.
Torrid CEO Lisa Harper shared her company’s plan in comments on its first-quarter earnings release.
“At the same time, digital continues to be our customers’ preferred channel, now approaching 70% of total demand. We are accelerating our transformation to a more digital business, which includes optimizing our retail footprint,” she said.
More retail:
Harper then elaborated on the planned shutdowns.
“We now plan to close up to 180 underperforming stores this year – allowing us to reduce fixed costs and reinvest in areas that drive long-term growth, including customer acquisition and omnichannel improvements,” she added.
Those closings have been slow.
June 5, 2025, Major Closure Notice: Torrid plans to close up to 180 underperforming stores nationwide by the end of 2025as part of a strategic pivot to digital channels and cost reduction, according to its Q1 earnings release. At the time, the company operated about 632 stores, down from 658 in mid-2024.
Q2 2025 (August 4, 2025), quarterly results update: In it second quarter 2025 reportTorrid noted that it closed 57 underperforming stores and stayed on track to get to 180 closures goal for the year, the company shared on its investor relations page.
End of 2025, local closures in progress: Individual store closings continued through the end of 2025, with select locations (eg, Meriden Mall, Connecticut location) announcing closures in January 2026 and others liquidating inventory or closing doors locally, according to CT Insider.
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Torrid has closed retail stores.Shutterstock” loading=”lazy” height=”540″ width=”960″ class=”yf-lglytj loader”/>
Torrid has closed retail stores.Shutterstock
Torrid reported its third quarter sales on December 3rd. Some of the highlights included:
Net sales fell 10.8% to $235.2 million, compared to $263.8 million for the third quarter last year.
Comparable sales fell 8.3% in the third quarter.
Net loss of $6.4 million, or ($0.06) per share, compared to a net loss of $1.2 million, or ($0.01) per share in the third quarter last year.
In Q3 YTD, the company had closed 74 Torrid stores. The total number of stores at the end of the quarter was 560 stores. Source: Torrid Third Quarter Earnings Report
“We are clearly disappointed with our overall performance this quarter. Despite some strengths, it was more than offset by missteps in our global assortment mix that we are addressing head-on with decisive corrective actions,” Harper said during Torrid’s third-quarter earnings call.
The company is planning some assortment changes for 2026.
“Looking ahead to 2026, we are implementing a more strategically balanced assortment architecture. Approximately 30% of our assortment offering will be opening price points, developed in close partnership with our product design and product development teams to ensure we maintain our quality standards while providing accessible value to customers,” added the CEO.
Analysts see Torrid’s closings as a strategic pivot to digital, reflecting a broader shift in retail where e-commerce now accounts for the majority of plus-size clothing sales.
William Blair analysts Dylan Carden and Anna Linscott, in a note shared with Retail Dive, supported the chain’s plans to shrink its retail footprint.
“The bigger headline here for us is that management is making a broader reduction in store closings, which we believe is a positive step in freeing up capital to invest in new products and marketing to support a clear push in its online channel,” they wrote.
GlobalData managing director Neil Saunders also supports the shutdowns.
“Closings are largely sensible because they will free up capital to invest in things like better marketing and product developments,” Saunders told NewJersey.com. “Money will also flow into stores that show potential.”
Experts suggest that strategic store closures, along with digital expansion, allow companies like Torrid to reinvest in product development and marketing, ultimately driving long-term growth.
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This story was originally published by TheStreet on December 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the Retail section. Add TheStreet as a favorite source by clicking here.
