Fashion industry mourns loss of Alexandra Waldman, co-founder of Universal Standard.
Alex,the fiery and unyielding co-founder of Universal Standard, took her last breath on Friday, leaving us at the tender age of 57. Her death was due to that goddamn aggressive cancer that had been eating away at her for nearly two years, as per a heartfelt Instagram post from Universal Standard this week. She was initially cooking up a storm in the kitchen, but had to step back to tackle her cancer head-on.
Born on April 13, 1966 (yeah, that's right, a Cancer!), Alex had always been a force to reckon with. She was a Trailblazer, uncaring and relentless in her quest to make fashion available for all, regardless of their measly size. She had a knack for challenging the establishment, pioneering industry-shattering initiatives that reshaped the fashion landscape. Her legacy, however, isn't just a dark brown mark on the calendar; it's a damn blueprint for how we can all champion a more inclusive world. The ball's in our court now, folks.
Along with CEO Polina Veksler, Alex founded Universal Standard in 2015, entering the scene with an 8-piece collection targeting sizes 10–28. This was a bold move, addressing a long-standing gap in the market for high-quality, inclusive fashion. Alex's vision was clear: a fresh perspective in fashion, defying convention by including the mid-size and plus-size consumers who had been left out in the cold for far too long.
The business took off like a rocket, expanding its product offerings and collaborating with major brands to improve sizing capabilities. In 2018, they partnered with J. Crew to unleash a size-inclusive collection, ranging from tops to skirts and pants, available in sizes up to a whopping 5x. The brand then teamed up with Adidas in 2019 for a performance collection, offering pieces from sizes XXS to 4XL.
To boost their workwear offerings, in April of 2021, Universal Standard (smart cookies, those folks) acquired luxury womenswear brand Henning, welcoming Henning founder Lauren Chan aboard as Universal Standard's head of brand partnerships. Later in June, Universal Standard made a splash in the swimwear market with an eight-piece line, available in sizes 00 to a mighty 40.
So yeah, Alex was no wallflower. Her work, her influence, her very existence challenged the status quo, and she did it all with a side of sass. Alexandra Waldman, we salute you, your unapologetic spirit, and your unwavering commitment to fashion inclusivity. You're not just gone; you're a damned blueprint for a more inclusive world. Rock in peace, sister.
- The co-founder of Universal Standard, Alex Waldman, passed away at the age of 57 due to aggressive cancer, leaving behind an industry-shattering legacy.
- Born on April 13, 1966, Alex was a force to reckon with, pioneering initiatives that made fashion accessible for all, disregarding size limitations.
- Alex, along with CEO Polina Veksler, founded Universal Standard in 2015 with an 8-piece collection targeting sizes 10–28, addressing a significant gap in the market.
- The brand challenged conventions by including mid-size and plus-size consumers who had been overlooked for far too long.
- Universal Standard expanded its product offerings and collaborated with major brands to improve sizing capabilities, launching a size-inclusive collection with J. Crew in 2018.
- In 2019, the brand partnered with Adidas for a performance collection, offering pieces from sizes XXS to 4XL.
- To boost their workwear offerings, Universal Standard acquired luxury womenswear brand Henning in 2021, bringing on Lauren Chan as the head of brand partnerships.
- Later in the same year, Universal Standard made a splash in the swimwear market with an eight-piece line available in sizes 00 to 40, continuing Alex's unwavering commitment to fashion inclusivity.
