Spotlight On: Kitsch Plus

Spotlight On:
Kitsch Plus

As part of our ongoing series, we are interviewing people of interest in the area who are having a positive impact on our community.

This time, we reached out to Kayla L. Evans of Kitsch Plus.

Please tell us a little bit about Kitsch Plus and how it started.

Kitsch Plus is a size inclusive clothing company that began on Poshmark in December 2023 with a handful of items from my own closet that I had never worn or only worn once. I was a full-time online teacher at the time, and my father had recently passed away. Shortly before he passed, he brought up the idea I had many years before of owning a business that helped people feel good about themselves, and while I had not thought of it in ages, he never forgot that it was something I had always dreamed of doing. He made me promise to go for it, so I did. My friend, Alex Tyler, initially joined me and helped mold the vision of the company, even creating the name Kitsch Plus! As full-figured people, we wanted to have clothing and accessories that were fun, funky, and flattering without being overly priced, so we began sourcing the types of items we loved to wear. Alex stepped away from the business and took her rightful place on the Board of Directors at ACTS Theatre in Lake Charles, LA, and I moved forward with Kitsch Plus, obtaining my LLC in March 2024.

By that time, I had expanded to include all sizes, and on my birthday of March 21 I jumped into being a full-time seller, as I had to leave my teaching position. I had also rediscovered my love of graphic t-shirts, which became a major focus for my business and began making one of a kind upcycled denim jackets, vests, and acid-washed t-shirts. Since then I’ve only grown and become known for doing live shows on Poshmark that are full of snarky fun that give people a place to be themselves, safe from the world of online bullying, which I campaign against.

What would you say your mission is?

At Kitsch Plus, I’ve woven parts of myself into the fabric of our mission: to embrace and celebrate all people, regardless of size, shape, or any other qualifier. My goal is to foster visibility and representation for everyone. Having experienced various shapes throughout my life and having been a victim of bullying simply for being myself, I deeply understand the significance of being seen as a human being. A vital aspect of this visibility is providing access to affordable clothing that allows for authentic self-expression and individuality, while encouraging people to be proud of what makes them uniquely beautiful inside and out!

What types of products do you offer?

I am currently making the shift towards focusing on wholesaling inventory for other sellers, as well as being a personal shopper for individuals. My focus moving forward will be makeup, athleisure, and practical separates for all sizes. People are welcome to attend my live shows on Poshmark for a fun, interactive shopping experience with other shoppers, message me privately to search for items they love but cannot find locally, or come shop in person here in Bishop where I have outfitted my home office into a store and am converting my garage into a boutique! There are always items I do not have listed in my Posh closet, as my inventory is constantly being updated, so I welcome messages and requests and take them very seriously!

I do have something exciting in the works, though! With Homecoming and holiday formals right around the corner, I will be opening a formal wear boutique with a small selection of gowns in a range of sizes at affordable prices. Just yesterday I brokered a deal with a formalwear company to obtain a range of gowns, so I’m excited for that!

I can be found on Instagram at kitschpluscloset
Facebook at Kitsch Plus, LLC
Poshmark: @kitschplus

Where do you source your products from?

Sourcing is fun for me and something I’ve worked diligently on, making contacts with vendors across the country to provide a range of items for my customers. As a former sociologist and researcher, I’ve put those skills to work, finding those unique items at a great price and building a network of companies that I trust to provide quality products.

What do you see as the future for Kitsch Plus?

One thing I ask myself on a regular basis is “What do you really love about this business?”, and I keep coming back to three things: sourcing (finding those awesome items at a great price), helping people build their businesses, and seeing my customers excited about getting products from me. That’s where the future is for Kitsch Plus.

We have the potential to create something incredibly positive and powerful in the world of social media shopping, so it really is up to us where we want to take this. For me and Kitsch Plus, I want to use these tools for good. We can shop, create successful businesses, and make an impact, and I plan to do just that.

A special thank you to Kayla L. Evans of Kitsch Plus for answering our questions!

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TM Rush