Calling all shopaholics, aspiring designers and potential buyers, Boston’s innovative fashion tech company, 19th Amendment, popped up (literally) throughout Boston this weekend. What began as a collaboration at Startup Institute Boston in the summer of 2012 is now an official fashion portfolio site for emerging designers.
The event featured four flash fashion shows throughout the city of Boston, including pop-up shows on Newbury Street, at the Prudential, at Faneuil Hall and ending at their launch party at the Liberty Hotel.
According to 19th Amendment's press release, the purpose of the site is to help “jumpstart young fashion designers and to give consumers a voice in the process.” Essentially, the site empowers emerging designers and connects them with shoppers, like me and you. The designers can use the 19th Amendment site as a “virtual studio” to showcase their work to consumers who can browse and purchase their clothing.
And, as the press release explains, the Virtual Studio allows designers to “showcase their work and vision within individual, custom virtual studios.” As customers, we can “browse the virtual studios, critique, and support young designers” by purchasing pieces. Buyers can also get into the action by viewing the items and “placing orders with top designers whose demographic aligns with their target market.”
In addition, the fashion site provides the designers with marketing and manufacturing support, or, as the 19th Amendment press release called it, “stilettostrapping” each designer’s fashion lines.
Co-founder and CEO of 19th Amendment, Amanda Curtis, is a Boston-based fashion designer and BU alum. She has worked for designers such as Diane von Furstenburg and Richie Rich, and is “said to be bringing NYC fashion know-how and Boston tech innovation together.” She even admits to starting her career path at the Boston Center for Adult Education where she took sewing classes before studying at Parsons School of Design. The rest is history.
Check out the site to learn more. You might even discover America’s next top designer.
Image Courtesy of Jamie Kaplan of TrendsandTolstoy.com
