Torrid

Torrid is a specialty apparel retailer focused on plus-size women’s fashion, serving customers who typically wear sizes 10 to 30. The brand offers a full wardrobe under one roof, from casual and work clothing to intimates, footwear, and accessories, and sells through a broad store network in the United States and Canada alongside a large e‑commerce business. As of December 2025, Torrid operates several hundred stores supported by a national online platform, giving it a meaningful physical and digital footprint across North America.

The company began in 2001 as a concept developed within Hot Topic to serve curvy shoppers who were largely overlooked by traditional mall retailers. What started as a mall-focused offshoot quickly found traction, and over time Torrid refined its fit, fabrics, and size range to build a dedicated customer base around consistent sizing and fashion-forward product. A notable milestone in this evolution was its separation from Hot Topic and the formation of Torrid Holdings Inc., now a standalone public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker CURV, which brought public-company governance and access to capital markets.

Over roughly the last five years, Torrid has continued to mature from a niche mall tenant into a diversified omnichannel brand. The assortment has broadened into categories such as denim, dresses, tops, activewear, swim, outerwear, footwear, and lingerie, which helps the retailer capture everyday wardrobe spending across seasons rather than relying on occasional purchases. During this period, the company has invested in its digital capabilities while still adding new stores, using a measured approach that supports both online growth and in-person try-on and service.

From a real estate perspective, Torrid typically operates small to mid-size in-line stores that can present a complete apparel and intimates offering without requiring department-store scale. Units are most commonly located in regional malls, lifestyle centers, and open-air power centers, where the brand benefits from proximity to other fashion, beauty, and value-driven retailers and contributes steady, needs-based traffic. The format is flexible enough to backfill former specialty apparel spaces in both enclosed and open-air projects, which can be useful in re-tenanting legacy corridors or updating older power centers.

Torrid’s ongoing, selective expansion illustrates a targeted growth posture rather than a rapid rollout model. Recent store openings in markets such as Sacramento in the U.S. and Guelph and Edmonton in Canada show how the company continues to fill in trade areas where it already has strong online and brand awareness, rather than chasing every available box. For landlords, brokers, and developers, this combination of a defined customer niche, national name recognition, and public-company backing often translates into a tenant that can drive repeat visits, support co-tenancy with other soft-goods brands, and help round out an apparel lineup with a plus-size specialist that many shoppers will travel specifically to visit.