PUBLISHED March 30th, 2024 06:00 am | UPDATED July 22nd, 2024 03:06 pm
As we conclude our International Women’s Month series, we delve into the realm of fashion – an industry often synonymous with unrealistic beauty standards. Enter Rani Dhaschainey, CEO of The Curve Cult who bravely challenges these norms, championing body positivity and inclusivity regardless of race, sexual orientation, or physical abilities. Join us as we uncover Rani’s inspiring journey, her unwavering advocacy, and her aspirations for a more inclusive future.
From Fat Shaming To Empowerment
It’s often said that the things we experience as children tend to shape the way we are as adults and for Rani, this rings true. Reflecting back on her early years and what fuelled her to form The Curve Cult, Rani shared a personal incident when her father fat-shamed her following her mother’s passing – who would also stand up for her and defend as fat-shaming was a regular occurrence in their household. It was there and then that Rani decided to take a stand for herself, just as her mother would have done, and also carry on that for people everywhere who continue to be fat-shamed and ridiculed by others in society.
To Rani, body positivity is the idea that all bodies are good bodies. While this is a valid concept, she believes it has become watered down and oversimplified. The current understanding of body positivity takes away from its origins in the fat liberation movement – observing that many brands and influencers are co-opting body positivity to come across as inclusive, but unfortunately, they are still excluding marginalised bodies.
“While people with all bodies can have body image issues, we cannot forget that it is fat, queer, brown and black, disabled bodies that face the most discrimination. The fat liberation movement started in 1969 by fat, black, brown, trans, queer, disabled people asking for equal rights and access to be given to marginalised bodies like theirs.”
The Birth of The Curve Cult
With an unwavering determination and a heart full of passion, Rani founded The Curve Cult in 2014. Her mission was clear: to uplift plus sized individuals by breaking down barriers and encouraging them to embrace their true selves with confidence, pride and style.
At the very core of The Curve Cult lies a strong commitment to inclusivity and diversity. As a Person Of Colour (POC) owned business, Rani and her team strive to create imagery that never fails to include everyone, especially those from marginalised communities – ensuring that no one would ever feel left out or unrepresented. Firmly believing that fashion has no gender and that their entire business is built on the foundation of deconstructing oppressive structures, empowering people is not just a goal for The Curve Cult; it is the very essence of their existence.
Beyond the realm of fashion, a significant part of the work done by The Curve Cult involves focusing on healing and reconnecting with our bodies, free from the toxic influence and harmful narratives rooted in misogyny, patriarchy, ableism, and racism. While this approach goes against the grain of societal norms, it is incredibly uplifting and transformative, promoting self-love, body acceptance, and the celebration of diversity, creating a movement that empowers individuals to love themselves unconditionally and live their lives to the fullest.
The Curve Cult also offers upcycling services or consultations for customers who would like to reuse what they already own and recently have also launched their first in-person event of the year, Cultivate Wellness and their latest initiative, Fat Wellness Collective – hosting plus size friendly movement classes, events, workshops for plus size people to access healing, movement and community in a diet free space.
A Journey Towards An Inclusive Society
Apart from her work with The Curve Cult, Rani has been a vocal advocate for uplifting marginalised communities, supporting small Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color (BIPOC) owned businesses, and championing LGBTQIA+ rights.
During the Black Lives Matter movement in the US, The Curve Cult organised its first fundraising event, an online and physical bazaar, collaborating with over 20 BIPOC businesses and influencers. They managed to raise $7,000 in a single day – a feat that Rani is incredibly proud of.
However, with any form of advocacy, there will always be critics trying to undermine a cause for the greater good – something Rani is no stranger to. When asked how she deals with this in particular, she shares that these types of negativity simply do not faze her.
“I am not here to educate every single person. I am here to work with people who want to get onto this journey of fat acceptance or are at least curious about it. “
What’s Next For The Curve Cult?
Transitioning The Curve Cult from a plus-size clothing store to a plus-size clothing store and community platform has been challenging on many levels, but Rani and her team have learned a great deal from the experience. When asked about potential projects in the pipeline, Rani expressed her passion to further collaborate with and mentor small BIPOC businesses – especially in their first five years of operation. Furthermore, The Curve Cult will be launching a plus-size thrift wing in their store in the next few months, making thrifting more accessible for plus-sized individuals.
When asked if she has any advice to share with those looking to create a brand that champions inclusivity, Rani emphasises the importance of understanding what inclusivity truly means and being clear about who you will be serving.
“Many potential business owners view focusing on one group of people to be narrowing their options and therefore their reach and potential income. But picking a niche is absolutely necessary in establishing a brand.”
Last but not least, in the realm of all things fashion, we asked Rani about a clothing item that she considers to be a staple in her wardrobe. While this item changes with the seasons of her life – the former being wrap dresses – currently, it’s a pair of black, wide-legged pants as she loves the versatile black bottoms for her looks!
Keep up with Rani Dhaschainey here.
All images courtesy of Rani Dhaschainey.