Hello party people!
Today we’re going to travel back to the East Coast, where I’m from, Montrèal to introduce Em & May! They are located in Montrèal, specifically in the Mile End. Em & May holds a special place in my heart because when I looking for plus-size swimsuits, I saw them on my Instagram page during the pandemic and was fascinated by their custom sizing option. Their sizing is a little different than other brands, it ranges from XXS to 4XL++ for swim tops/bralettes, XXS to 4XL for swim bottoms/undies, XXS to 4XL long for pants, and XXS to 4XL for dresses and one pieces. They have lots of sizing range and this is because sizing isn’t always standard and everyone has a different body type. They offer a wide range of sizes along with custom sizing to make sure their pieces fit YOU perfectly. For more clarity, you can visit and check out their sizing chart here.
Emilie, the owner of Em & May, invited me into their studio space, which is also their “factory” where everything is made. Made by Emilie, the owner, and a team of women and queer folks. All the clothes are made in the Mile-End of Montreal, I’ve been there and seen them working, it’s an amazing sight to see. Their made-to-order business model allows them to have little to no waste as they only produce what is necessary; everything is sewn in their studio space that doubles as a small shop with fitting rooms. IT’S SO COOL! Now I know you want to visit their site, so I’ve included it here.
I have a few items from them, mostly swimsuits but I also have biker shorts, underwear, and bras from them too! I’m not linking what I got because they aren’t available anymore. The majority of the fabrics that they sourced are produced in Canada, eco-certified, or deadstock. Deadstock is typically a limited edition as they are sourced in low quantity. Some of the swim fabrics are made with Carvico Vita Econyl, made of an Econyl regenerated Nylon that is made from recycled yarn. it is ultra-chlorine, sun cream, and oil resistant, and maintains its shape with proper care. it is also certified standard 100 by Oeko-tex. They are working towards using all Oeko-tex-certified fabric and deadstock. But what does this mean? It means that every piece is unique, just like YOU; have no fear though, they are constantly coming up with new styles and using new (to them) fabrics. So far, they made swimsuits, athleisure, loungewear, lingerie, and everyday basics to integrate into your wardrobe.
They have many collection drops, meaning they drop certain pieces every few weeks or months, currently, they have their Honeymoon Motel Collection up! Their prices range from $20-200 which is a big range but remember, these pieces are being made with so much care and in optimal working conditions. Everyone at Em & May is paid a liveable wage which is reflected in the quality and price of each garment. I’d also like to point out that their custom sizing is the same pricing as their ready-to-ship section, which seems intuitive to the rest of the prices but I’ve seen some fast fashion brands hike up the plus size garment price because “more fabric is being used”… people, no matter big or small, still need clothes and deserve to wear clothes they feel good in. Clothes are meant to fit us, not the other way around!
Since they make everything in-house, it can take longer than fast fashion brands to get your Em & May garment, remember, these are not machines making your clothes (I mean, a sewing machine is being used but you get my drift), it’s real people and it takes time for us humans to make things! I like that it takes around 4 weeks to get my Em & May order. After all, it allows me to appreciate and ponder if I want/need something or if I’m getting it because it’s currently trendy. Check them out and I hope you end up enjoying them as much as me!
– Kimiko
