Canadian Retailer Expands to the U.S. Market

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Aug. 11, 2016) - Penningtons, Canada's long-standing #1 plus-size fashion destination is set to take on the American market this month. Three of the leading U.S. retailers, Macy's, Nordstrom and Lord & Taylor have all signed on to carry the brand's new plus-size women's line, mblm by Tess Holliday; a brand created by Penningtons in collaboration with celebrity blogger and plus-size model Tess Holliday.

Penningtons created the mblm brand in 2013 in an effort to provide the plus-size woman with younger, edgier fashion options designed to fit her curves. As advocates for body diversity, the Canadian retailer felt the essence of their message was kindred with Tess Holliday and her #effyourbeautystandards movement. A partnership was formed and the collection officially launched earlier this year in March. Two seasonal collections have since been released, both receiving rave reviews. "We are very proud of this collection and what it stands for: individuality, empowerment and femininity. Tess does such a wonderful job of inspiring and encouraging women to be true to themselves," said Ginette Harnois, Penningtons Vice-President of Marketing & Visual Presentation, "Tess truly embodies the essence of the mblm brand: you shouldn't apologize and you shouldn't have to compromise on being you."

The company's venture into the U.S. marks another milestone in its growth strategy. In the recent year, Penningtons received accolades for its celebrity collaborations with Melissa McCarthy for the Canadian launch of her Seven7 collection, as well as its mblm by Tess Holliday collection. The brand also elevated its body positive movement with the innovative #iwontcompromise campaign. Consisting of a series of YouTube videos, the campaign went viral, garnered over 19 million views and received several notable industry awards.

The mblm by Tess Holliday collection is currently available at Penningtons stores across Canada and online at Penningtons.com. The brand will also be sold online at, Macys.com, Nordstrom.com, LordandTaylor.com and select Lord & Taylor stores in the U.S.

About Penningtons

The Penningtons brand stands for fashion without compromise. The company strives to empower women to embrace fashion as a form of self-celebration. Inspired by current trends, designed with fit expertise and paired with unparalleled value, Penningtons believes in the art of affordable fashion. With 135 stores and over 65 years in the business, Penningtons has become the #1 fashion destination for plus-size women across Canada.