Local designer launches plus-size fashion line

A Riverview clothing designer is making the most of growing childhood obesity rates with a new line of boutique-style clothing for plus-size girls aged five to 13.

Shannon Auffrey was inspired to launch the clothing line out of a childhood sympathy for her plus-size sister. She wanted to dress fashionably, but with few choices in malls and department stores, looking like her peers was a constant struggle.

Auffrey is changing that with her new business. She says young girls need to be confident in their looks whatever size they are. "I think we really need to start changing the way we think about our look and our image and to get off this thing that we should be the same size because we're really not."

Auffrey says two years of research revealed few fashion choices for larger girls. She found a manufacturer to help bring her ideas to life. Now she's taking orders on the phone and over the internet.

Auffrey says its an idea that's long overdue. "The obesity rate is on the rise for kids I see that the fashion is not changing to meet up with that demand so I thought this would be a good time to maybe look into it and start something."

Auffrey says young girls should be able to dress stylishly, no matter what their size. She hopes to start a similar clothing line for boys.