Provo plus-size thrift store offers hope for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse through clothing
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- The inside of Curveture, a plus-size thrift boutique in Provo, is shown on Friday, April 18, 2025.
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- Curveture co-founders Lily Sanders, left, and Taudine Andrew, right, work behind the counter on Friday, April 18, 2025.
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- A woman looks through selections inside of Curveture, a plus-size thrift boutique in Provo, on Friday, April 18, 2025.
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- The exterior of Curveture, a plus-size thrift boutique in Provo, is shown on Friday, April 18, 2025.
Empowering women of all sizes to feel their best and exude self-esteem is the mission of Curveture, Utah’s only plus-size thrift boutique.
Owners and mother/daughter duo Taudine Andrew and Lily Sanders opened the Provo business less than eight months ago but they’re already aiming to give back to the community.
Curveture has recently partnered with The Refuge Utah in Orem to provide plus-size clothing to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Andrew said they wanted to engage in community service through charitable relationships with an organization that aligns with their mission to help women, particularly plus-size women.
“We knew that, because we had some clothes that would be left over after our sales or things like that, we wanted to see if there was a way that we could use that or leverage that to be able to help some other, some other people,” she explained.
Andrew thought that a local domestic violence shelter could likely use the articles, but in the case of The Refuge, which provides temporary housing and various forms of recovery and resources for victims of domestic and sexual violence, they don’t store clothing items.
Instead, they decided to donate a portion of the proceeds of the boutique’s quarterly clearance sales toward funding clothing vouchers for individuals at The Refuge to use at their store.
“It’s a gift card like anybody else (who) would buy a gift card here,” Andrew noted. “So there’s no identifying information for those women. It’s just anybody who has a gift card comes in and shops and buys what they need.”
It’s essentially a community effort as many of the items are donated to Curveture.
Ashlee Taylor, executive director at The Refuge, said the ongoing partnership aids in a fundamental need in access to clothing for individuals escaping troublesome situations.
“Curveture is helping us fulfill our mission by providing survivors with access to clothing in the season, style and size that helps them feel empowered,” Taylor told the Daily Herald in a statement.
In many cases, for people fleeing an abusive relationship, time is of the essence, and Taylor said an individual may not have a chance to take many of their belongings and often have very little clothing with them.
“When safety and housing is the focus financially, clothing is often not a priority,” she added.
As survivors begin to heal from the trauma, Andrew explained how the partnership is about more than just clothes; it’s helping to rebuild a sense of value among individuals who’ve endured physical and or emotional trauma.
“When you have gone through something that is so dehumanizing and you’re trying to rebuild your sense of self, having the opportunity to choose things that you love, that really reflect yourself, rather than just a hand-me-down or an emergency item — it really is a way to start rebuilding your your sense of value,” said Andrew, who became emotional discussing the subject.
Sanders noted the dilemma plus-sized women often face in general while shopping for clothing.
“There’s already issues with self-worth, and it just adds a whole other dimension to that challenge,” she said.
While Curveture aims to empower women through fashion, with a safe, judgment-free shopping experience, Taylor says the gesture reflects the strength of the community and its shared commitment to standing with survivors.
“This kind of partnership not only meets practical needs — it sends a powerful message of support and hope to those we serve.” she said.
A sentiment echoed by Sanders, who highlighted the importance of building community and support for vulnerable women.
“We’re happy that it’s not just a good partnership, but we’re also actually filling a really specific need that they do have,” Sanders added.
Curveture is located at 1394 N. Freedom Blvd. in Provo.
Donations are accepted during regular business hours with no appointment needed.
