The plus-size women’s clothing market has been growing steadily.
According to data from Verified Market Reports: “The revenue of the plus-size women’s clothing market is estimated at US$23.6 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach US$37.4 billion by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.5% from 2026 to 2033.”
The CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) indicates that the market will continue to expand.
The report also shares some other important facts about the growing women’s plus-size fashion market.
E-commerce channels are growing the fastest, accounting for more than 60% of sales, surpassing traditional brick-and-mortar stores.
Driven by rising awareness and demand for inclusive fashion, the global plus-size apparel market is expected to register a strong CAGR of around 7% between 2025 and 2033.
North America currently dominates the market, accounting for more than 35% of total revenue, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific.
The projected growth in plus-size fashion highlights not only growing demand but also the potential for retailers to innovate in inclusive sizing, pricing and e-commerce experiences.
While more traditional retailers, including Target, have expanded their in-store selections and added size ranges, the shift to online sales remains notable.
Target has partnered with designer Kahlana Barfield Brown and made it clear that inclusivity is a key element.
“From the beginning, Kahlana and the Target design team felt it was important to make the collection versatile and look stunning on women of all shapes, sizes and budgets. All 120 items are available in sizes XXS-4X (in stores and on Target.com), with most items under $35,” the chain shared in a press release.
However, Target and other retailers haven’t stemmed the tide of plus-size sales moving online. The shift to online sales has forced Torrid, one of the leading retailers in the field, to close nearly 200 physical retail stores.
Back in June, Torrid unveiled a plan to close about 180 underperforming stores among its more than 620 stores.
Torrid CEO Lisa Harper shared the company’s plans in comments on the first-quarter earnings release.
“At the same time, digital remains the preferred channel for our customers, now accounting for nearly 70% of total demand. We are accelerating our transformation to a digital-led business, which includes optimizing our retail footprint,” she said.
More retail:
Harper then detailed the planned closure.
She added: “We now plan to close up to 180 underperforming stores this year, thereby reducing fixed costs and reinvesting in areas that will drive long-term growth, including customer acquisition and omnichannel enhancements.”
These closures are slowly unfolding.
June 5, 2025, major closure announcement: hot plan By the end of 2025, 180 underperforming stores will be closed nationwideas part of a strategic focus to shift to digital channels and reduce costs, according to its first-quarter earnings report. At the time, the company operated approximately 632 stores, down from 658 in mid-2024.
Second quarter 2025 (August 4, 2025), quarterly results update: in its 2025 Second Quarter ReportTorrid noted that it was closed 57 underperforming stores and keep moving towards the goal 180 closures The company shared its goals for the year on its investor relations page.
Local closures continue at the end of 2025: Individual store closures continue through late 2025, with specific locations, such as the Meriden, Connecticut, mall location announcing closures in 2025 January 2026 Other companies are reducing inventory locally or closing, CT Insider reported.
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Torrid has been closing retail stores.Shutterstock
Torrid reported third-quarter sales on Dec. 3. Some of the highlights include:
Net sales fell 10.8% to $235.2 million from $263.8 million in the third quarter of last year.
Comparable sales fell 8.3% in the third quarter.
Net loss was $6.4 million, or ($0.06) per share, compared with a net loss of $1.2 million, or ($0.01) per share, in the third quarter last year.
As of the third quarter of this year, the company has closed 74 Torrid stores. As of the end of the quarter, the total number of stores was 560. Source: Torrid Q3 Earnings Report
“We are clearly disappointed with our overall performance for the quarter,” Harper said on Torreed’s third-quarter earnings call. “While performance was strong in certain areas, these were more than offset by missteps across our overall category mix, and we are taking decisive corrective actions to address these issues.”
The company plans to make some variety adjustments in 2026.
“Looking ahead to 2026, we are implementing a strategically more balanced category architecture. Approximately 30% of our category offerings will feature open price points, which are developed in close collaboration with our merchandise design and product development teams to ensure we maintain quality standards while delivering accessible value to customers,” the CEO added.
Analysts see Torrid’s closure as a strategic pivot toward digital, reflecting a broader shift in retail where e-commerce now accounts for the majority of plus-size apparel sales.
In a report shared by Retail Dive, William Blair analysts Dylan Carden and Anna Linscott supported the chain’s plan to shrink its retail operations.
“The bigger headline for us is that management is cutting back on store closures more broadly, which we view as a positive step towards clear momentum in freeing up capital to invest in new product and marketing to support its online channel,” they wrote.
GlobalData managing director Neil Saunders also supported the closure plan.
“Closing factories is largely sensible because they will free up money to invest in things like better marketing and product development,” Sanders told NewJersey.com. “Money will also flow into stores that have potential.”
Experts suggest that strategic store closings combined with digital expansion can allow companies like Torrid to reinvest in product development and marketing, ultimately driving long-term growth.
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This article was originally published by TheStreet on December 24, 2025, and first appeared in the Retail section. Click here to add TheStreet as your preferred source.
Torrid has been closing retail stores.Shutterstock