Devon Ball of Saigewear – Designing Active Wear for Women of Size

The clothes I was given to wear throughout my modeling career were not attractive or appealing, and if I ever had the opportunity to make a difference for women of size I would.

—Devon Ball—

Devon Ball is the founder and designer of Saigewear.  She founded the company over 3 years ago.  Having been a plus-size model herself, she was dissatisfied with the clothes she was provided to shoot in.  There was also a limited amount of clothes available for women who wore the plus sizes.  Out of that frustration, her clothing line was born.

In an industry that caters to smaller sized women, Devon Ball has pioneered a line of active and leisure wear that is not only flattering but promotes healthy body image and positive attitudes.  Ball purports that a lot of full-figured women don’t go to the gym because there is such a minimal selection of workout clothes available, that they just don’t feel comfortable working out in.  She herself realized that the only time she felt comfortable during her fitness regimen was while she was wearing men’s sweats.  Dispelling the myth that the average woman wears a size 5, Saigewear brings fashion to a starved and neglected population of women who deserve to look and feel good about themselves.  I met Devon at the shop in LA that manufactures her t-shirts and was given a glimpse of what this entrepreneur did to get her line out into the world.

All of us who are not a size 00 are grateful to you.

Thank you. I know how frustrating it can be when you’re trying to find something that’s flattering, feel confident in, or have clothes that you just want to go to the gym in. It’s really frustrating when you can’t find appealing workout clothes. Also, on the weekends you want to wear a sweat suit or travel on an airplane, and you can’t find really cute gear.

This is casual wear?

It’s casual, leisure, and fitness. This clothing line can be used for the gym, or just for going shopping or to a concert.

Designers have their own techniques of gauging sizes from different models.  How did you determine the sizes for your line?

When I first started Saigewear, I went downtown to different designers, and [I looked for] manufacturers that would distribute really nice fitness wear.  Those clothes [I discovered] were not true to size.  That led me on a very frustrating path trying to find manufacturers that could cater to that need.  That’s what led me to the [realization that I would have to design these clothes myself].  That is what led me to Joanna Le, and I found Judy at Nancy LA because of that very issue.  I needed someone that was actually going to give me some clothes that were going to be true to size, because I wanted women of size to be able to fit into these clothes.  So, I met with Joanna, gave her my vision, and she came back with exactly what I wanted.  We actually sized these sweat suits a size or two up. We used suits that were extra large and made them a 1X or 2X, making that the new large.  We added length, too, because a lot of women who are ‘of size’ are taller.  So we’re not only catering to larger sizes, but taller sizes, too.

But it’s not just plus size is it?

When I would go to festivals, or I am out selling clothes, or doing fashion shows, I decided to cater to everyone, and now the sizes will range from medium to 4X.

Now what is a medium?

A medium is a 7/8 and we’ll take it to 4X, which is a larger size. If we have to go to 5X, I will, because I want to make sure that I am catering to everyone.

So you have the background of a model and a fit model, too.  So you know when things don’t fit.

I am a former Ashley Stewart model. In fact, they were one of the [companies] that gave me my start.  [As a plus size model,] I got knocked out of so many jobs because the things that they gave us to model just weren’t flattering.  So imagine being in front of a camera and you’ve got on these clothes that are tight in the arms, loose in the stomach and they hang over on the neck.  What do you do?  You can’t radiate your true inner beauty.  You’re not confident and you don’t feel at all that you can portray what they want you to.  I got knocked out of a lot of jobs because of that.

The most incredible thing I notice when I am having photo shoots for Saigewear is I don’t care who puts on those clothes, their figures are flattered, they look good, they feel confident, and it’s radiated throughout the pictures.  So if you look on the Internet at the magazine pictures that we have [on our website], my models are happy, and they look good.

What are some of the biggest areas you have to focus on when it comes to women’s bodies?

I think the biggest areas are the middle section, the hips, the rear end, the height, and the length.  And depending on if they’re top-heavy, it could be their arms are an issue.  I am trying to make things that are going to flow with your body.

What are your fabrics?

Right now I’m using cotton, lycra, and there is polyester involved. I don’t know exactly what I am going to pick next, but these materials seem to work very well.

Do your collections come out twice a year?

Well, right now they are coming out twice a year, but as Saigewear grows, I will be adding things in periodically.  I am having so much fun, I am starting to see different designs that I can bring into fruition. As I grow, so will Sagewear.

Where can we buy Saigewear?

Right now, it’s primarily Internet.  However, I am in the process of meeting with buyers. I’m looking at Sears, Macy’s, Lane Bryant, and Ashley Stewart.

Highest High

By just being a former [plus size] model, my passion has always been there. Before, I was always a size 4 to 6.  Once I became plus size, my ‘high’ became greater than me.  It’s almost like I have been instructed to create this [line] to help women want to get in shape, feel good about themselves, and to look good while doing it.

You’re going to help a lot of women’s self-esteem.

That’s exactly what I want to do. Saigewear actually started as a day spa.  This started back in 2003.  Getting $200,000 at that point wasn’t conducive to SBA’s thoughts at the time. They didn’t believe in it; so I kept downsizing, and I pulled out the boutique part, because Saige will eventually be a spa where people enter and regroup, refocus, get the inspiration they need to go out there and be all that they need to be in the world. So this is the very ground level of Saige.

Lowest Low

I was listening to Russell Simmons Do You!, and was just blown away because I think everybody that starts a business venture goes through what he described—I completely ran out of finances.  I put tons of money into [my business], and then I had to go through what worked and didn’t work. Had I known what I know now, I’d be so much farther along.  But with tenacity and hanging in there, the most incredible things have shown up to get me to the next point.  So when I’m at my lowest low, I may get down for a minute, but I am not out!

What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs starting a business?

Really hone in on what it is you’re trying to do and make sure that it’s your passion, because if it’s not your passion, you will not stick with it.  This is my passion.  And the only reason why I can stick through the fire and the brimstone of it all is because it is my passion.  Surround yourself with people that are positive—that are going to help you to continue to see your dream, and people who are going to help you get to the next level.  Stay away from a lot of negative energy, because that will only bring you down and help your vision to dissipate.  When you’re doing something so great, you need to have very tight arms around you, because it’s not easy.  Also, choose something that is going to help other people.  I think that if there’s something you’re doing great, you can’t help but get it to other people.  Try to surround yourself with people that have the knowledge.  People that can understand your vision and can put you in touch with people that can help get you to the next level.  Pretty much, just do all your homework, whether it is getting books from the library or finding someone who is already in the profession that you want to get into.  School is never too much.  They offer classes all the time on ways to help you get the skills you need.  Most of all, pray!

Saigewear was featured in LA Focus, Save the Date, and Senior Life. To learn more about Devon Ball and Saigewear, visitwww.saigewear.com.

By Kaylene Peoples