Plus-size women’s boutique Society31 opening in Warner Robins

WARNER ROBINS – After one too many shopping trips that ended in frustration, Allison Faik decided Warner Robins needed something she couldn’t find: a boutique where plus-size women aren’t limited to a single rack tucked away in the corner. 

On June 26, that vision will become reality when Society31 opens its doors on Margie Drive, offering fashionable clothing and a shopping experience designed specifically with curvy women in mind.

Society31 will officially open on Friday with a ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m. The festivities will continue through the weekend with sip-and-shop days on Friday and Saturday, featuring custom drinks from local vendor Sip Peazy.

Faik, the store’s owner, is excited for opening day and hopes for a fun day of shopping.

What to expect at Society31

Inside the store, most clothing items range from large to 4XL, and, if Faik can find them, in 5XL.

They clearly mark pieces that run smaller than typical sizing, giving shoppers the clue to choose the next size up for a perfect fit.

The boutique also offers accessories and handbags for shoppers of all sizes.

Faik aims for an affordable price range similar to Target. The most expensive pieces are $60. Comparable pieces from plus-size retailers like Torrid and Lane Bryant are often higher at full price, like dresses priced up to $100 and $130, respectively.

The overall catalog aligns with the recent trend of dopamine dressing. The style rose to prominence after the COVID-19 pandemic and uses color and symbolism to instill joy in the wearer, according to fashion magazine Harper’s Bazaar.

Faik chooses clothing that is flattering in terms of fabric, fit and patterns.

“It’s stuff that I would wear that I think will make people feel good and look good,” she said.

Clothes are sorted into four categories tailored to different age ranges: 

• Elevated Everyday – casual and youthful leaning for young adults
• Polished and Put Together – business casual and workwear for adults
• Timeless Confidence – mature and modest styles for middle-aged and older adults
• Core Collection – elevated basics for all ages

The categories aren’t hard-and-fast rules. Faik encourages finding pieces from every section.

“I still want people to feel comfortable interchanging. Just because you’re a certain age doesn’t mean you’re that age at heart,” she said.

The store also features a rotating capsule collection for special occasions. First up is Fourth of July, then next is teacher-themed for back-to-school. 

Faik is also planning a game day collection with straight sizes included, so friend groups can wear matching outfits for games.

Colorful vibes, no struggles for shoppers

Faik is hoping for more than a store. She wants an experience. The goal is happiness as shoppers browse through the racks with colorful decorations surrounding them. Music is selected for a laid-back atmosphere, with Fleetwood Mac playing softly over the speakers during The Journal’s visit.

Society31’s name comes from the Bible, specifically Proverbs 31, Faik said. The chapter describes a virtuous woman, and Faik believes she is meant to help women feel seen and loved through fashion.

“I felt so strongly like it was my calling. All of my experiences culminated into this one project that was meant for me to do,” she said.

Two years ago, Faik moved to Warner Robins from Wrightsville, a small town near Dublin. She and her friend were shopping for a wedding guest dress in town and couldn’t find suitable options in her size. She started talking to other plus-size women while out shopping and noticed that many struggled with the same thing.

With prior retail experience and a master’s degree in Information Technology, Faik chose to apply her insights and begin work on opening Society31 in May of this year. She aims for it to be an in-person, fully size-inclusive option that fills a gap.

“I wanted to create something where, as a plus-size woman, I could walk into a store and know that I didn’t have to go to one little rack in the back corner,” Faik said.

The market intelligence platform PipeCandy estimates that only 8% of online clothing retailers offer plus sizes, and Faik faced similar challenges buying clothing for the boutique.

Recently, Faik visited the AmericasMart wholesale market in Atlanta to buy clothing. The retailer operates 299 clothing stores, according to its website, with eight offering plus sizes. Only three offered sizes larger than 2XL.

A community-focused clothing center

Because of the challenges she faced while shopping, Faik wants her boutique to be a safe space for plus-size women, offering fashionable, trendy options.

Warner Robins is home to affordable big-box stores like Walmart and Target, and discount stores like Ross and T.J. Maxx that only offer a limited selection of plus sizes. Several boutiques also offer a limited selection, but Society31 is the only exclusively plus-size space.

“People want real clothes,” she said. “They want the same clothes, just in a larger size.”

Faik hopes the boutique will grow into a vibrant community hub with a loyal customer base.

Faik’s friend and assistant, Nancy Beasley, agreed, saying she wants to see a place where women empower other women.

“Women need to lift each other up. I see people out all the time and complement them on their hair and clothes. No matter how big or small you are, give somebody a compliment,” Beasley said.

In the future, Faik will work hand in hand with a fashion designer for next year’s spring collection. The designer reached out to her after she advocated for more plus-size options at AmericasMart.

Faik eventually wants to expand to a mobile boutique or a second location. 

She also wants to design her own clothing line. And the name for it?

“Society31, of course,” she said.

Can’t wait until opening day? The store offers online shopping with pickup sites in Warner Robins and Dublin at society31.com.

Society31 will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will be located at 115 Margie Drive, Suite G, Warner Robins.

Having a fashion emergency outside of business hours? Faik said she will meet you at the store to sort it out.

For fashion emergencies, call (478) 538-5715.