. “Fat people have existed since the beginning of time, and they’ve had to wear clothes,” says Krase. “When it comes to vintage, because fashion has been exclusionary and because there were not as many mainstream options available that can stand the test of time, I think that's a major factor of why you don't see as much available.”
Krase has actively tried to change that. As the only secondhand store centered around plus-size fashion in New York City, Plus BKLYN is a safe space for plus-size shoppers that don’t feel welcome in the city’s rich vintage scene. “If you’re a straight-size person, you can walk down [Brooklyn’s] Bedford Avenue and throw a rock at 20 vintage stores,” says Krase.
Because of this, their spaces have become go-to destinations for plus-size shoppers eager to sort through racks of clothing that embody the kind of mindset not commonly celebrated inside the fashion industry. “You would be shocked at how often we have people come into our store and cry out of happiness coming out of the dressing room,” says Krase. “Yet, it shouldn't be so novel for people to feel like they can find options.