Wilson launches ‘Rebel for Torrid’

By: Zenab Saeed ~Staff Writer~

Wilson's Pic
Photo courtesy of fashionweek.com | Wilson teamed up with Torrid to create a collection that embodies her personality. The slogan for Rebel’s new fashion line is “Welcome to the Rebelution.”

Australian actress and comedian Rebel Wilson, best known for portraying the character Fat Amy in the 2012 film “Pitch Perfect,” recently launched a new plus-size clothing line. Wilson teamed up with plussize clothing and design company Torrid for her 30-piece clothing line, which was officially released on Nov. 1 in stores. The collection, named “Rebel for Torrid,” is also available for purchase online through the retailer’s website and features pieces that reflect the actress’s personal style.

Thirty-five-year-old Wilson formally studied acting and graduated from the Australian Theatre for Young People. She found success and critical acclaim through her acting career in the U.S. after her performance in Paul Feig’s 2011 comedy film “Bridesmaids.” Once in the spotlight, Wilson noticed a lack of attention for the plus-size fashion industry.

“I’m currently like a size 18, sometimes a 16 depending on how good I’ve been, so I’m kind of just a bit too big for most regular clothing. But what I found with a lot of plus-size clothing was that it didn’t seem cool or on-trend. It was kind of like what your auntie would wear to a wedding. So it was a mission to find clothes that fit and were well-made… it definitely is an under-served market,” Wilson said in an interview with People Magazine.

This gap in the fashion industry was also recently addressed by Wilson’s “Bridesmaids” costar Melissa McCarthy’s size-inclusive fashion line. Wilson saw this as an opportunity to use her talents and make a contribution to the fashion world.

“I guess that’s what happens when you become successful as an actress: People take notice of what you wear, and you weirdly become a role model for other girls. I have a large fan base of teenage girls. And so I have to then start paying attention to what I wear. It takes a little while, but then you realize what looks nice and what kind of little risks you can take without being too crazy but still showing a bit of your personality,” Wilson said to People.

Wilson is set to launch another collection in the spring and will star in the upcoming Sacha Baron Cohen film, “The Brothers Grimsby” and the upcoming romantic comedy film “How to Be Single.”