Founded in 2015 by Alexandra Waldman and Polina Veksler, Universal Standard is a series A company. As of 2025, the company began selling through 20 Nordstrom stores and Nordstrom's website, and has wholesale arrangements with Anthropologie, Macy's, and Nuuly. In 2023, Universal Standard acquired Henning, a plus-size luxury workwear brand founded by Lauren Chan.
Cyborg Score Rationale
Universal Standard has raised $14M in funding from Red Sea Ventures and Imaginary. The company has successfully moved beyond direct-to-consumer to establish wholesale partnerships with major retailers and achieved strategic acquisition in the luxury plus-size segment. However, as a private company with 45 employees as of February 2026, it remains relatively early-stage with execution risk in a competitive apparel market.
Top Insights
The company employs a fitting process called 'micrograding,' which involves adjusting garments across individual sizes rather than grading from a single sample size.
Universal Standard operates Fit Liberty, an exchange program that allows customers to exchange eligible items for a different size within a specified period.
The company has 17 active competitors, with top competitors including Dia, ELOQUII and CoEdition.
As of February 2026, Universal Standard has approximately 45 employees across 4 continents, including North America, Asia, and Africa.
Named Competitors
ELOQUII — Plus-size fashion apparel
Dia — Inclusive fashion for all body types
CoEdition — Size-inclusive fashion brand
Nordstrom — Department store with expanding size-inclusive apparel selection
Recent Developments
(June 2026) Launched 'Henning x US' luxury fashion collaboration with inclusive fashion advocate Lauren Chan, available in sizes 00-40
(2025) Began wholesale distribution through 20 Nordstrom stores and Nordstrom's website
(2023) Acquired Henning, a luxury plus-size womenswear brand, with founder Lauren Chan joining as head of brand partnerships
(2018) Raised $7 million Series A funding round from investors including Imaginary Ventures and others
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