Fashion 2.0 & the consuMEr in the MEconomy

Posted by Darren on Jul 27, 2009 • (Comments)

As many readers of this blog know, I’m a big fan of the fashion world.  I enjoy many different types of fashion (everything from conservative prep to sporty) and especially enjoy how the fashion world is being infused with different technologies.  I’ve been meeting with companies that provide custom shirts all the way down to crowd sourced outfit selection and have seen some great innovation.

Just this past weekend, I stumbled into and ordered a custom suit from the online/offline company, MySuit.  These guys have 2 presences in NY – one in Herald Square (Manhattan) and one in the Westchester Mall in White Plains.  While I haven’t gotten my suit yet (takes 2 weeks), I am extremely fascinated with the experience overall experience and will judge the quality after I’ve worn it a few times.  What is particularly interesting to me about MySuit is the consuMEr element of it.

Increased adoption of technology in the fashion world (as well as the innovation and evolution of technology) allows for a once mass industry to become “me” centric – or custom.  Ideally (somewhat theoretical now), once you are measured, then every article of clothing can be custom.  Today, this opportunity would cost significant dollars, but tomorrow, it could be attainable.

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Tomorrow evening is the Fashion 2.0 event hosted by my friend and colleague Yuliz from MyItThings.  There are a few companies presenting but I’m interested in hearing the presentation by ProperCloth.  These guys have created a simple but effective website for ordering custom shirts online.  They aren’t the first nor do I know if they are the best, but hearing them present tomorrow is going to be interesting.

Are any other readers of this blog going?  Would love to hook up.  I’m actually taking my father who is a fashion industry executive and introducing him around to these new companies.  Should be fun.

BTW:  I don’t think I touched enough on consuMEr or MEconomy enough, but I ran out of time and that’s for future posts.

Tagged as , , , , , , + Categorized as Internet & Web X.0, Startup & Venture Capital
  • hawaiijobs14
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  • David
    Darren, how was the suit? Does it fit well?
  • Looking forward to Fashion 2.0 Meetup tonight and hearing from some great companies. I'll be sharing about StyleHop.

    Darren, the NYC Fashion 2.0 community needs to be talking more about how to leverage new technology to get the consumer more involved in fashion. The history of fashion is that consumers don't play a role....they are just passively told what to wear. but the democratization of fashion is happening with or without fashion companies consent. The best companies new and old will be those that get on the edge in terms of pulling consumers into their companies to help guide and direct design, merchandising and marketing. Because the big fashion companies are not innovators and tend to sit on their hands when it comes to leveraging new technologies, the opportunities for emerging companies in this space is huge.
  • Good luck tonight presenting! Looking forward to it.
  • Jim
    Check out http://www.englishcut.com/. This guy is a Savile Row tailor who set up his own operation in Northern England. His blog gives you some insight into the dynamics of custom tailoring.

    Measurement, cloth and style selection are obviously only a small part of the tailoring value chain so I am not sure to what extent an online tailoring service can really drive value and differentiation at the lower price points. At the lower end of the price scale ($400-$600/suit) you probably won't see a lot of differentiation between made-to-measure at that price point and off the peg tailoring. As price increases you are typically paying more for better fabric, stitching, custom fit features and sewn linings (versus factory glued). So at higher price points the convenience of meaurement is only a small part of the equation. There is also a clear product distinction between "made-to-measure" and "custom".

    I think there is a massive gap in the US market between cheap made to measure and high end Savile Row level quality custom. There is room to deliver better quality and personalization but I think you have to look at the entire value chain.

    My grandfather was a master tailor in England. Happy to discuss the 'sartorial' and business aspects of custom tailoring with you.
  • Hello Darren,

    I have a fashion blog (fashionperpetrator.com) and I would love to have you as a guest blogger telling my readers about your experience with receving your suits from mysuit.com. Please let me know if you are interested (I can also just "syndicate" the content you write for your own blog and add traked links...let me know what you think.

    best, The Fashion Perpetrator
  • Thanks for reaching out! Feel free to syndicate this post.
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