{"id":15738,"date":"2023-09-29T13:45:03","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T13:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mysourcefunding.com\/leadership\/legacy-left-by-universal-standards-late-co-founder-alex-waldman\/"},"modified":"2023-09-29T13:45:05","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T13:45:05","slug":"legacy-left-by-universal-standards-late-co-founder-alex-waldman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mysourcefunding.com\/?p=15738","title":{"rendered":"Legacy Left By Universal Standard\u2019s Late Co-Founder, Alex Waldman"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>The movement for size inclusivity in fashion has lost one of its visionaries. Earlier this month Alexandra Waldman, co-founder of Universal Standard, passed away due to an aggressive form of cancer. \u201cAmidst an exclusionary fashion landscape that perpetuates antiquated beauty standards, Alex saw the potential for a brighter future,\u201d reads the announcement made on Universal Standard\u2019s Facebook page. \u201cShe leaves behind a legacy, but also a blueprint for how we all can champion a more inclusive future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The outpouring of sympathy across multiple social media platforms included comments from followers of the brand, reflecting on the impact Waldman and Universal Standard have had on their lives. \u201cSuch incredibly sad news. What an amazing person she was. She opened up a whole new fabulous world to those of us who are treated like second rate citizens by the apparel industry. I love Universal Standard and will think of her when I wear my most cherished pieces,\u201d wrote Suzi Owens.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you for making inclusive fashion and labeling my 3X body a Large. Thank you for making styles that all people can wear be they, men, women, nonbinary or transitioning. I celebrate and honor you today in the same way you honored all of us with your accessible fashion!\u201d wrote Dana David-Dahmoush.<\/p>\n<p>Waldman co-founded the inclusive sizing fashion brand with friend and CEO, Polina Veksler. \u201cAlex and I became fast friends,\u201d reflects Veksler, \u201cbonding over our love for international travel, experiences immigrating to new countries as kids, and our shared desire to leave the world a better place than we found it, which Alex has certainly done.\u201d Veksler shares that Waldman inspired designers, media outlets and industry stakeholders to take steps to change the culture. \u201cHer impact is immeasurable and undeniable,\u201d says Veksler. \u201cI miss my friend dearly and will continue to be inspired by her confidence, loyalty, and vision every day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><fbs-ad position=\"inread\" progressive=\"\" ad-id=\"article-0-inread\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\"><\/fbs-ad><\/p>\n<p>What follows is an abridged timeline of that Waldman accomplished, alongside Veksler and the Universal Standard team, since the brand\u2019s inception in 2015.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2015<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In preparation to develop their first collection, Waldman and Veksler visit luxury clothing stores to find where exceptional designer garments are being made. Though factories were hesitant to produce the expansive size range they are proposing, they ultimately identify a factory in Peru that can accommodate their vision. The brand still works with them to this day.<\/p>\n<p>That same year, Universal Standard launches with an eight-piece collection, which sells out within six days.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2017<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The company releases a three-piece collection with actress Danielle Brooks. Later that year, Waldman and Veklser find themselves asking, \u201cHow cool would it be to exchange my jeans when I go up or down a size?\u201d and come to the conclusion that they can ceate a program that makes this happen. The brand goes on to launch \u201cfit liberty,\u201d a free exchange program that allows a customer to swap out select pieces for the same styles, should their size change.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The brand expands their sizing to accommodate sizes double-zero through 40. Universal Standard launches collaborations with J. Crew and Goop, and are named one of Fast Company\u2019s Most Innovative Companies. That same year, the company donates over 10,000 pounds of clothes to organizations dedicated to helping women return to the workforce.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Waldman helps launch collaborations with Rodarte and Adidas, and Universal Standard publishes <em data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https:\/\/www.universalstandard.com\/blogs\/us-journal\/what-would-fashion-look-like-if-it-included-all-of-us\">What Would Fashion Look Like If It Included All Of Us?<\/em> a children\u2019s book about imagining a world where clothing \u201cconnects us instead of divides (us).\u201d All of the proceeds from the book are donated to Save the Children and No Kid Hungry\u2019s shared initiative.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2020<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Universal Standard launches the Vote with US campaign, which benefits When We All Vote, a non-profit, non-partisan organization that aims to increase election participation and close the race and age voting gap.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2021<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Waldman is awarded for her work with The Coalition for the Homeless\u2019 First Step Program and launches a partnership with Planned Parenthood for Mother\u2019s Day. Three artists \u2014 Amber Vittoria, Melissa Koby, and Marylou Faure \u2014 are commissioned to create a limited edition collection of printed tees entitled \u201cEver Mothers\u201d with 100% of the profits going to Planned Parenthood.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2023<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Universal Standard acquires luxury plus-size womenswear brand Henning, and launches the expansion of the \u201cSee It In Your Size\u201d program. This program focuses on allowing customers to see styles on models who are their size.<\/p>\n<p>The customers of Universal Standard mourn Waldman\u2019s loss but remain enthusiastic about continuing to celebrate and participate in the vision for inclusivity that she left behind. Regarding the state of the business, Veksler reflects, \u201c(Waldman\u2019s) mission to democratize the fashion industry remains at the core of everything we do. Universal Standard has and will always be a bold pioneer of progress committed to sparking sustained, community-oriented, and meaningful change in fashion and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Read the full article <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/virgietovar\/2023\/09\/29\/legacy-left-by-universal-standards-late-co-founder-alex-waldman\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The movement for size inclusivity in fashion has lost one of its visionaries. Earlier this month Alexandra Waldman, co-founder of Universal Standard, passed away due to an aggressive form of cancer. \u201cAmidst an exclusionary fashion landscape that perpetuates antiquated beauty standards, Alex saw the potential for a brighter future,\u201d reads the announcement made on Universal [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15739,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-15738","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-leadership"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Legacy Left By Universal Standard\u2019s Late Co-Founder, Alex Waldman | Brandiary<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The movement for size inclusivity in fashion has lost one of its visionaries. 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