If you’re a woman who even remotely sits outside of the ‘normal’ (whatever that means) range for womenswear, then you’ll already know that there is some major work to do in the fashion world.

From sizing issues down to the sheer lack of choice available, the industry has a problem that needs to be fixed. Unfortunately, it seems that larger fashion labels and corporations don’t see it as their burden to bear – or rectify – so that’s why we must be all the more grateful when small businesses decide to tackle it themselves.

Enter Dolapo, the 27 year-old creative director and founder of Taideux, the fuller bust brand creating beautiful pieces for fuller bust women. Born out of her own frustrations trying to find clothing options as a 32GG/H, Taideux addresses the common pain points experienced by fuller bust women, who are regularly alienated from the fashion market. The range currently caters to sizes UK 8 to 18, F through to K cups, and after catching up with Dolapo (remotely of course, stay safe people!), it’s a breath of fresh air to find a brand that’s looking to change the status quo for the fuller bust industry.

DOLAPO, TAIDEUX’S CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER

The Unedit: Hi Dolapo! Tell us a bit about yourself.
Dolapo: Hi, thank you so much for having me! My name is Dolapo, I’m 27 and the creative director and founder of Taideux! I grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and I have 4 sisters, so I’ve been a feminist for as long as I can remember! I love travelling, tech, spending time with my family and friends and all things Beyoncé!

TU: What was the lightbulb moment that pushed you to create Taideux?
D: There’s that one period, or year, when all your friends suddenly start getting married and you have a lot of events to attend – 2018 was that year for me! I had so many weddings and parties to attend and found shopping very stressful because nothing ever fitted my boobs! I wear a UK32GG and clothing size 10/12, so my boobs are not proportional to the rest of my body. This forced me to settle for clothes I didn’t necessarily like, size up and alter my outfits, or find clever hacks to make them wearable. I ended building a great relationship with my local seamstress because I was always going to her for alterations. After a few expensive months of alterations, I thought to myself, surely, I can’t be the only one going through this? and proceeded to conduct some market research; I surveyed over 150 fuller bust women asking a series of questions regarding clothes shopping. I finally decided to start up Taideux and the rest is history!

TU: How would you describe the essence of Taideux?
D: The Taideux babe is a badass. She owns her femininity, she is powerful, confident and a go-getter! She is also multi-faceted! Being a part of the Taideux Tribe means going on a journey of self discovery, accepting/loving your body and finally - showing it off!

TU: How did you feel being a solo-preneur building and subsequently launching a brand on your own?
D: Balancing my nine-to-five whilst building a completely self-funded fashion brand has been the most difficult thing I have ever done. As a solo-preneur, you wear all the hats in your business, from customer service to design, to marketing, to financial management. It can get very overwhelming doing everything, but I try to remember my “why”. I also take breaks for my mental health; a good old crying session with some ice cream every now and then also helps! Everyday has a new obstacle, and you learn to be resourceful and resilient.

That being said, the factory we’re partnered with in India has been absolutely amazing and they’ve taken on some of the burden, particularly around logistics, which I am grateful for. Having an amazing support group of family and friends in my corner, cheering me on has also made all the difference! I also recommend networking with other entrepreneurs as much as you can. I’ve met so many amazing people – and in particular women – that truly understand what I’m going through and we support each other as much as we can. The solo-preneur life is lonely and it really does make a difference having other entrepreneurs to go on this journey with.

BELLA FULLER BUST PUFF SLEEVE CROPPED TOP IN BLACK, £85, BY TAIDEUX

TU: Do you have any words of wisdom for other women who may be in the same position?
D: Don’t be too hard on yourself! I always try to remember that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. In this social media age we live in, it’s easy to compare yourself to other entrepreneurs whose businesses have grown very quickly, but remember that people usually only show the best parts of themselves online, and also these cases are very rare. I know it’s easier said than done, but it’s important to keep that thought in mind.

I also recommend documenting your journey when good and bad things happen so you can see how far you’ve come. The last tip I’d give is to not be afraid of asking for help when you need it. I personally struggle with asking for help, but I’ve found that my friends and family do want to help out! It doesn’t have to be financially, but little things like assisting on a photo shoot, or helping with fulfilling orders – they can make all the difference.

TU: Let’s talk industry. What are your thoughts on the fuller bust market on the whole?
D: So much has changed since I found out about the fuller bust world in 2016! A lot of progress has been made and there are many brands providing lingerie, swimwear, sportswear and even loungewear! There’s still a massive gap when it comes to clothing for fuller bust women, particularly clothing for young adults like myself who still want to go for a more feminine and sexy but classy look! However, I’m really happy to see the progress being made and new brands – including Taideux – coming along to fill the existing gaps.

TU: It’s so hard to find ethically made plus size/fuller bust products on the market. How important was it for you to launch Taideux as an ethical brand?
D: During my research phase, prior to launching Taideux, I learned a lot about how harmful the fashion industry is to the environment and also how poorly workers are paid. I decided that I had to do things differently, even though it meant a slightly higher price point. Despite its drawbacks and challenges, I’ve enjoyed working with the factory we are partnered with in India and using a made-to-order business model. Each seamstress receives all of the amazing treatment that a lot of us take for granted: fair wages, holiday pay, safe working environments and EU standard working hours. Furthermore, adopting a made-to-order business model means there is no waste or deadstock that ends up in a landfill because each piece is made only after an order has been placed.

TU: Tell us about Taideux’s social mission and the driving force behind that.
D: Our main mission is to empower fuller bust women and make them feel confident. Besides this, I am very passionate about the advancement of black women and women in general, and I try to donate to different female and black female focused charities where I can. This year has been difficult for us, but in our first launch in 2018, we donated 10% of our revenue to an amazing charity in Nigeria called Sanitary Aid for Nigerian Girls, who are fighting against period poverty in Nigeria. I hope to do more of this as we grow and donate to female-focused charities centred around education, domestic violence, breast cancer and other health issues.

ALYSSA DUSKY PINK FULLER BUST BONED CORSET TOP, £89, BY TAIDEUX

TU: Beyond its beautiful fuller bust fashion options, what do you hope that Taideux will offer its customers?
D: I want fuller bust women to feel seen and represented. You hardly see women with a fuller bust in magazines – or generally – painted in a tasteful light. Fuller bust women are often sexualised and I want to change that narrative and create a space and community where they instead feel empowered, confident and accepting of their bodies.

TU: What challenges (if any) did you find whilst creating/launching the brand?
D: I have had so many challenges! One key challenge I face is money; being a self-funded startup means I have very limited resources, so I have to be very frugal in the way I allocate them. On one hand you want to create beautiful products, but you also need to market them to reach the right audience, and both of these activities can be expensive. Another challenge I’ve faced is balancing my full time job and other life commitments with Taideux. Manufacturing in India also poses its own challenges because they are five hours ahead of the UK, so I have to wake up really early (like 5 or 6am!) to speak to the factory. I think the biggest challenge I have faced, though, is imposter syndrome; not having a fashion background and absolutely no connections in the industry makes me doubt myself as I feel I don’t belong in the industry.

That being said, I see every challenge as an opportunity to learn something new and gain new skills. I have learned to be resourceful, resilient and to speak positive words to myself and on my business whenever I doubt myself.

TU: What’s been the best moment of the Taideux journey so far?
D: The best moment for me is whenever I receive feedback from my customers (who I call the #TaideuxTribe). I get DMs and emails regularly from customers who thank me for creating a brand made specially for them, and how they’ve never had any clothes fit them the way that Taideux pieces do. It really means the world to me and warms my heart.

TU: What future aspirations do you have for the brand?
D: Taideux is more than a fashion brand to me, it’s a movement! It’s bizarre to me that a large percentage of women are not taken into consideration when it comes to design and sizing of clothes. I want Taideux to be the movement that challenges and changes existing fashion standards to be more inclusive of fuller bust women, who are currently an afterthought – or not thought of at all. At the moment, we focus on occasionwear designed to be worn on special days, but my dream is to expand to casual clothes, sportswear and bridal. I’d love to be the one-stop shop for all things fuller bust.

We at The Unedit can’t wait to see what’s yet to come from Taideux and its mission to reshape the fuller bust market. As always, it's vital to support small businesses and the women running them, even more so those who share our values and vision for the future of inclusive fashion like Taideux and Dolapo!

If you want in on the fuller bust action, Taideux is holding a flash sale for Black Friday, with up to 15% off on site, plus free worldwide shipping! You can find Taideux at www.taideux.com or on Instagram.

All photos courtesy of Taideux