Us Trendy: Fashion “Indie”pendence (+Interview)
Posted by Dyandra Brown . Feb 19, 2010 . interviews
What exactly is Us Trendy some may inquire? Us Trendy is a unique concept that provides an outlet for talented fashion designers, in which they showcase and sell unique indie fashion and art. Us Trendy also provides a democratic way for stylistas to control what they purchase; they can determine what fashion companies produces through posts, votes and design rating. Us Trendy is now embarking on projects such as, providing independent designers with a spot in London Fashion week and publicizing the new digital concept store. Us Trendy has successfully grown to become one of the largest fashion and art databases. Its like having personal shopper that is just a click away, proving international fashion from local and independent designers.
Check out our exclusive interview after the snap shot and adored products.
Snap Shot: New Us Trendy Store
Products That We Adore
$15.00
Accentuate your plain v neck t shirt with this leather bow chain necklace. This mix of feminine and rocker chic is the perfect accessory for the one of a kind fashionista. With a variety of colors available, there is one fit for every ensemble.
$75.00
White and red sandals are staple items for your summer wardrobe. Mix the two hues, add bold straps and detail, and you have a shoe that your closet is patiently waiting for. Perfect with a bright complimentary hue such as canary yellow.
Plaid High Waist Skirt
$175.0
This unique plaid and lace high waist skirt is ideal for the daring stylista. The plaid skirt stops post hip to reveal and intricate lace detail. This is an example of how to successfully mix to opposing fabrics. Perfect with a black lace top and platform black pumps.
Sheet Music Dress
$227.00
This fun and flirty Satin dress is nothing that you have every seen. The clef not resting upon over sized shoulders is the first breathtaking feature. This feminine and flirty dress is perfect for an artsy cocktail party when paired with ultra high patent black peep toe pumps.
Founder: Sam Sisakhti
Sam Sisakhti is the the founder of Us Trendy. The dream began after witnessing a friend suffer due to limited success in his fashion career as a designer. Despite his talent, he was unable to gain proper recognition. Us Trendy is the outlet for designers to sell and showcase their merchandise. Us Trendy is now supporting and sponsoring local fashion designers and artists.
Exclusive Interview
The 949: What were you main inspirations for creating Us Trendy?
Sam: This is a great question. I had several inspirations to create UsTrendy
First, I want to help indie designers break through the barriers in the industry and pursue their dreams. There are so many talented designers and artists in the world who do not have a platform to be discovered. I wanted to help them pursue their dreams and take them one step closer to realizing their dreams.
Secondly, I want consumers to play a part in the discovery process. Democracy was something that I always wanted to introduce into any business I created. At end of day the people’s voice should determine things rather than the voice of a select few. I remember looking through fashion magazines or walking through the mall with friends and asking ourselves “ how cool it would to decide what it is promoted in these magazines or sold in these stores” We wanted to have say in process and express our voice and opinion. For so long a select few has decided what fashion we see, read about, wear. I thought that it was vital to allow people the opportunity to have a say because at end of day we are the ones who spend some much of our time and money on the products.
After graduating from Brandeis University, I knew that I wanted to create a company that helped indie designers and artists at same provided consumers with a viable voice.While at Brandeis, I was exposed to Entrepreneurship courses and really loved the idea of creating something but like most people, coming out of school I took a job at major company because that was track which growing up I allows thought I would take.
Never less, I was really unhappy at my job despite it being good pay and good position. My passion was entrepreneurship. I still remember this day like it was yesterday. I went to breakfast with my father. He could see I was upset and asked me what was wrong. I told him about my idea to democratize fashion and help indie designers and artists share their work the world. I also told him about my love for entrepreneurship and creating something in world which would make a difference. He looked me in eye and told me “to follow my heart.”
That day, I resigned from my job and started UsTrendy.
The 949: Why did you choose the name UsTrendy?
Sam: I choose name UsTrendy because I wanted to reflect the democratic community aspect of business. So that is were the “Us” comes from. It is “us” as a group which decides which fashion is promoted. It is not me but rather the community and the people who decide. The power is in the hands of the community. So that is where Us comes from. I put word trendy in because for so long a select few has decided what the trends are but now in this new model we as a community decide what is trendy.
The 949: Do you plan on taking UsTrendy mainstream, or sticking to local and emerging artists?
Sam: Right now my focus is on helping indie designers make it in the industry. Indie designers both locally and aboard. We are focused on designers from all around the world. My goal is help take these indie designers and make them main stream. As for working with established designers that is def something down road and I have been contacted by several. But my passion is to help that indie designer out there sitting in their studio struggling to make it. To take this designer and make them mainstream and provide them with assistance.
The 949: What successes have you had thus far?
Sam: We have had many successes in less than two years time we have had over 400,000 designs uploaded making us one of largest fashion design data bases on web. We have held several of the webs largest fashion design competitions with half a million votes per competition. We currently had one of our designers (who was voted on by people in our fashion week competition) have their own runway show in London Fashion week this month. Once in lifetime opportunity for her. We were also named top six fashion sites that every fashion marketer should know in largest advertising and marketing publication, Ad Age.
But one of the most important success factors for me are all the positive emails I get from consumers saying they received a great idea and are very happy with it or from our designers everyday thanking me for creating UsTrendy. They are ecstatic because they have been contacted by companies to design for them, or have gained new customers and exposure through ustrendy. At end of day it is about how many people you touch so that is most important metric for me.
The 949: What obstacles have you encountered with the development of the company?
Sam: So many obstacles. In many ways I related myself to the aspiring indie designers. Just like them I was a young aspiring person trying pursue my passion as a career. I think it comes through in how I deal with things. In many ways the designers on my site and I have had journey together. We both started out with nothing to fall back on but our passion and dreams together we grew and brought UsTrendy to where it is today. I was told by many people that I was crazy for leaving my job to pursue this. So right off the bat, it was challenging to gain acceptance of the fact that a young two something year old trying to create changes in a billion dollar industry like fashion and retail industry.
There were nights when I would go to bed and pray for something positive to happen to me next day so that I could keep doing this. Next challenge was to create the business, this being my first business a lot of aspects that go into business that you never think existed until you try to start something like this. So all the aspects of building the business were very challenging. Luckily, I had my father’s guidance he served as a mentor and role model for me. He also has a successful company which he started himself. So I was able to use him and a mentor and role model. I also kept a positive outlook on life, something I got from my mother. Everytime something positive happened I would use it as motivator. I would use it to get me through tough times.
Another challenge was convincing the industry that a democratic system would work in fashion. Many of the older people in industry did not like idea of democratizing fashion because for so many years things have been done differently. So when I first came out with this idea no one would return my calls or be receptive. So I had to just buckle down and have faith in myself and idea. I knew that if I could get enough designers and people behind UsTrendy then the industry would come around. Sure enough, it happened.
Now I have many major retailers contacting me. So it was one of those things were I guess when you build it and provide enough proof points, people will eventually come around and get warm to an idea. But it was very tough emotionally getting door after door shut in face when I first started this. I remember this now, when people come to me asking for advice or help, or pitch business ideas to me. I also am so appreciative to every positive piece of feedback I get from people. I even reply directly to a lot of customer service emails. People get a kick out of the CEO responding directly to their emails and are surprised. But I love the one on one interaction with our users.
The 949: Do you plan on creating a physical UsTrendy store with the same concept as the online shop?
Sam: This is a possibility, it would be really neat to have physical stores and have some cool features in the stores that utilize the online applications. But again this is down the road. A lot of signs have been showing that people are moving towards shopping more and more online. However there is still a demo out there that likes to go to brick and mortar and try on clothes. So this is something I am def open to in future.
The 949: Where do you plan on taking the company in the near future?
Sam: In the near future. From a business development perspective: I want to continue to do partnership with major fashion weeks such as London Fashion Week to provide our designers with these great opportunities.
From a site perspective, I also want to continue to build our new marketplace www.store.ustrendy.com that recently launched, which contains thousands of unique products from around the world. I want to build out the seller feedback applications we have, in order to provide sellers with more analytical applications. I also want to provide sellers with really innovative tools to better market themselves and products through social networking and viral applications.
From a consumer standpoint, I am introducing some really amazing applications for consumers to interact with products in new fun ways . I want to have consumers play an even more active role in company by having more competitions geared towards consumers. So in addition to just voting on products, they are involved in actual competitions. I also am in process of creating applications, which will make it easier for consumers to find products they like with out headache of having to search for it. All of these interactive applications for consumers, in-depth analytics for designers, and viral and marketing tools will be the evolution of UsTrendy and of how people engage with products.
Special Thanks to Sam Sisakhti for participating in the interview.
Special Thanks to Rachel Meis, Us Trendy employee.
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