A behind-the-design series for MoraRae, a sustainable fashion brand born from a deeply personal journey and a passion for creating beautiful, well-fitting clothing for petite plus size women.

Over the past four years, I’ve poured my heart and soul into building this brand, and today, I’m excited to share how MoraRae came to be.

This 6-part series will take you through the early days of inspiration, the challenges I faced, and the values that drive every stitch in our designs. Whether you’re a loyal customer or just discovering us, I hope this insight into MoraRae’s journey inspires you to join our mission to revolutionize fashion for short curvy women.

This post is about the heart and soul of my sustainable fashion brand for short curvy women, MoraRae.

The Early Days: Conception and Inspiration

MoraRae was inspired by my sister, Shamora, who passed away in June 2019. I needed a way to process my grief, and fashion design, sewing, and problem-solving have always been my outlets. I’ve known I wanted to be a fashion designer since I was eight years old.

With a degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising and about five years of experience in the apparel and product design industry, the dream of starting my sustainable fashion brand was on the horizon—but I wasn’t in a rush.

For You: Clothing for Short Curvy Women, The MoraRae Story

At 28, I was a newlywed, excited to start a family with my husband, believing I had all the time in the world to make my dreams come true. And then my 19-year-old sister died. Tragically, unexpectedly, she was just gone.

It was then that I realized there was no time to waste. Life is a privilege, and Shamora’s was cut way too short. I didn’t want to waste a single second of mine.

In the beginning, I knew two things: I wanted to keep Shamora’s spirit alive by sharing her story and raising awareness about epilepsy, which ultimately took her from us.

And I knew that whatever clothing I designed had to be sustainable, ethically made, and not contribute to the ongoing climate crisis.

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A lot of people start fashion brands because they want fame or glamour. I started MoraRae because I wanted to heal and help.

In 2020, the idea for MoraRae was formed. Initially, I thought designing for petite plus size women might be too niche, and I considered following the trend of designing for every body and size.

But as I did my research and reflected on my own personal experiences, I realized there was still a huge lack of options for women like me—short and curvy, petite and plus size.

Actually, there are virtually no options that are sustainably designed, ethically made, and stylish.

That’s when MoraRae, clothing for short curvy women, was born.

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“A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” – Disney’s Cinderella

As we wrap up part 1 of our behind-the-design series, I hope you’ve gained a deeper understanding of the inspiration and vision behind MoraRae. But every dream comes with its own set of challenges and learning experiences.

In part 2, I’ll take you behind the scenes to share the real, unfiltered journey of building MoraRae—from the highs and lows to the lessons learned along the way.

I invite you to join me on this adventure as we explore what it truly takes to bring a sustainable, petite plus size fashion brand to life.