Recently, I had the chance to speak with Caroline Misan Alvo, founder of Gambita, an online store for petite women. The website, which launched just this past January, after she left her job in the non-profit sector, is a play on being tiny – “gambita” means “little shrimp” in Spanish. At 4’9″, Caroline’s fashion woes are familiar to all petite women – even those who are far taller than her. With the mainstream fashion retail industry not fully addressing the issue, or for the most part, selling “granny” style clothing, the idea of a one-stop, online resource for petite exclusive and petite-friendly clothing was born.
Left: What You Got Dress by Keepsake; Right: Ana Skirt by Yumi Kim
Currently, Gambita features fun, casual pieces targeting the under-35 set that are petite friendly, rather than petite-exclusive or petite lines of existing, mainstream designers. Looks include simple tops, dresses and denim from such brands as Alice & Trixie and Yumi Kim. Eventually, Caroline hopes to carry true petite sizing with price points at the affordable price range. The beauty of Gambita is that it is definitely a petite source for petite women. The two models that Caroline uses for her shop are 5’1 1/2″ and 5’3″ respectively, meaning that petite women will have at least a rough idea what clothing would look like on them length-wise, even if they are not shaped like the models.
Left: Amor Shorts by bySmith; Right: Ryder Shirt by Alice & Trixie
While the store only carries casual (and summer-friendly!) pieces right now, Caroline hopes that Gambita will expand further, not only from well-known designers (she would love to work with such designers to create petite lines if it does not currently exist), but also office-appropriate pieces – petite women often have problems finding well-fitting blazers and suits – and perhaps formal wear as well.
Unlike many online shops, Gambita ships internationally. Price points range from the high double digits to just under $400 and 1% of all sales go to 10×10, an organization that promotes girls’ and women’s education in the developing world.
