News

Most Interesting People 2016: Rachel Kacenjar

Dec. 22, 2015 | 5:00 AM

Boutique owner, 33

Why she's interesting: Rachel Kacenjar didn't think twice about buying the plus-size vintage Re/Dress boutique in New York when its owner wanted to sell in 2013. After moving the body-positive business to Tremont later that year and then relocating to Lakewood in August, the self-proclaimed "fat girl" now uses her store to host plus-size friendly yoga, modeling classes and celebrity events featuring supermodel Tess Holliday.

Pattern to Success: With old hoodies from the thrift store and material from Jo-Ann Fabric, 15-year-old Kacenjar and her friends created the Pritty Kitty Clothing Co. and even made a magazine to advertise their designs. "We made hippie stuff like big long smock dresses that had ties with straps. I took pictures of my friends in the clothes in my backyard and made a catalog that we would pass out at the mall."

Holliday Inn: Kacenjar and Holliday, who was named one of the top plus-size models in the world by Vogue Italia in 2013, are good pals. In 2014, Re/Dress held a Q&A and meet-and-greet with the model that drew 400 people. "We had to rent out the empty storefront next to us."

SELFIE REFLECTION
Kacenjar's favorite thing
"I love the churro ice cream sandwich from Mason's Creamery because it has an amazing texture and is f---king delicious."

What To WeaR: Capes, Dr. Martens and hats. "I like anytime something wild is adapted into the mainstream. I love when you see a normal accountant wearing a giant hat with lilies all over it. That's what I want to happen all of the time."

vacation days: Right now, she and her girlfriend, Dane, are obsessed with Alaskan cruises. "I want no Internet connectivity. I don't want to work at all."

Fashion Forward: Every year, she teaches a Parsons School of Design class about fashion lines creating plus-size clothes. "They still need to figure out how to make best-selling items. We're still in the phase where they're throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing if it sticks."

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