Adaptive plus size fashion is more than a design concept for Leah Graifer. It is deeply connected to her own experiences with clothing, modeling, chronic illness and the frustration of repeatedly being told that her body did not fit the industry’s expectations.
After years of working as a fit model, Leah understood firsthand how garments are developed and where many ready-to-wear designs fall short. Pants were often too long. Tops did not accommodate fuller busts. Fashion-forward corset styles rarely offered the structure or proportions she needed. Instead of continuing to accept those limitations, she decided to create the clothing she had been searching for.
That decision became Lea Lea Love Clothing, a brand rooted in versatility, thoughtful construction and the belief that women should not have to choose between comfort, fit and personal style.
PMM Today spoke with Leah about moving from modeling into design, the people who supported her journey, the future of the brand and the determination that keeps her moving forward.
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From Fit Model to Fashion Designer
PMM Today: Your designs are distinctive and flattering. Are there particular designers who have inspired you?
Leah: I have always loved fashion. When I was a child, my aunt would take me to fashion exhibitions in San Francisco. Even as a young teenager, I was drawn to brands with a slightly edgier aesthetic, although I often could not fit into the available sizes.
I spent a lot of time playing dress-up and attending Renaissance fairs, so my influences have always been varied. It is difficult to point to only one designer because I am interested in such a wide range of styles.
I love the visual impact of Alexander McQueen, Michael Costello and Christian Siriano. At the same time, I try to remain focused on what the everyday plus-size woman wants: versatile pieces that are comfortable, well made and flattering, while still reflecting what is happening in fashion.
I pay close attention to fit, fabric and color. My goal is to create clothing that works beautifully across as many body shapes and skin tones as possible.
Watching my mother struggle with her body and clothing throughout my life also had a major influence on the technical side of my work. She is now over 65 and wears my designs, even though she previously avoided wearing fitted clothing in public. That means a great deal to me.
The People Behind the Journey
PMM Today: Outside of your family, who has supported you most throughout this career adventure?
Leah: My modeling agents and the people I met while working as a fit model were a tremendous source of support. I learned so much simply by listening during fittings and paying attention to the development process.
I also have a handful of wonderful friends, including Jenn, who modeled my most recent collection. She had never participated in a professional photo shoot before, and it was wonderful to have her involved.
Although they are not directly part of my fashion career, I would not be here without the doctors and nurses who have cared for me. I have lived with severe chronic illness since I was 12 years old, and I have a long list of health conditions.
Many of the nurses from my pediatric doctors’ offices followed my modeling career and continued cheering me on after I became an adult and left their care. That support has stayed with me.
I also cannot forget Jessica, the owner of the design and development company Suite Creative Studios. She helped bring my vision to life.
Looking Toward Bridal, Swim and Resort Wear
PMM Today: Where would you like to see the clothing line expand? Could bridal or resort wear be part of its future?
Leah: Wedding boutique owners have approached me in the past about designing wedding dresses, so bridal is certainly something I have considered.
I would also love to expand into swimwear and resort wear. There are endless opportunities for a brand offering something so specialized and so needed.
PMM Today: Your designs have become known in the southwestern region of the country. Where would you like to showcase them next?
Leah: At the moment, I am dealing with some serious autoimmune health issues that are slowly being untangled. When I am able, I would love to bring my designs to New York.
Nothing Is Ever Easy
PMM Today: If you wrote a book about your journey, what would the title be?
Leah: I think the title would be Nothing Is Ever Easy.
I feel as though I have had to fight through every step of my journey, whether it involved receiving proper care for complex health conditions, managing my mental health, completing school, working as a model or starting a business.
I was repeatedly told that no one wanted the type of clothing I had searched everywhere for and could never find. Still, I kept going.
I think we all face hurdles that are outside our control. I have always found a way to pick myself back up, even when I am quite literally limping along the way. I have always been incredibly stubborn and determined.
About the designer: Leah’s approach to adaptive plus size fashion is not based on the idea that one garment can fit every person perfectly. Instead, she focuses on building flexibility into the clothing wherever possible.
Her designs consider different heights, fuller busts, changing body shapes and the practical ways women wear their clothes. A garment may need to work with heels one day and flats the next. A waistband may need to accommodate different proportions. A color should complement a wide range of skin tones.
This emphasis on versatility also reflects Leah’s belief that tailoring and clothing repair deserve a renewed place in fashion. Ready-to-wear garments will not fit every body without adjustment, but thoughtful design can make clothing easier to personalize, wear and keep for longer.
Her newest collection includes buttons positioned inside the lower leg seams, allowing the wearer to adjust the length. It is a functional detail that reflects the larger purpose of the brand: creating fashion that can adapt as bodies, styling preferences and everyday needs change.
Last but not least…
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Visit Lea Lea Love Clothing
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Credits:
Model Jenn Blair
Photos, editing, styling, and makeup – Leah Graifer
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