WEARDROBE

Weardrobe (www.weardrobe.com) is a social, fashion-inspired media application founded by Richard Tong and Suzanne Xie. The site is an online closet that allows people to search and browse through each other’s closets via members who upload pictures of themselves and catalogue their own clothing by labeling or tagging each item (think Alicia Silverstone’s character Cher at the beginning of Clueless).

The site lets you see your closet’s content and keep track of how often you are wearing various garments via these uploaded photos of yourself. By making peoples’ closets searchable, Weardrobe says they are trying to help people discover clothes that work for their users closets. We caught-up with founder Rich Tong who told us that Weardrobe “is about putting your closet to best use, and continuing to discover new ways of styling what’s in it.”

Read-on to see how this application got its start and what is in store for its future...

Q:  You studied architecture at Cornell, then got into fashion at Coach. How did you end-up getting involved in this site?

A:  Maybe the best way of answering this question is to answer why I decided to study architecture in the first place… After graduating from architecture school, I wasn’t even remotely interested in being a traditional architect. I thought of architecture simply as a way of thinking – using design as a solution to solving problems.  It’s really fun taking this approach into other industries of design and Weardrobe, for me, is exactly that.

Q:  What made you take the risk and quit your job and move to San Francisco?

A:  Well, I’m 24.  And while Coach was a great opportunity, I saw a ton of potential in Weardrobe. It got to a point where I had to quit Coach and work on Weardrobe full-time in order to give it a fair chance. Moving to SF wasn’t so much about me, but rather what’s best for the business.  We are at a stage in the company where we’re looking to raise additional funding, and want to be closer to more investors.

Q:  Can you describe the site for those not familiar with it?

A:  Weardrobe is an online closet that allows people to search and browse through each other’s closets.  By making people’s closets searchable, Weardrobe lets you discover clothes that work for you and your closet.  It’s about putting your closet to best use, and continuing to discover new ways of styling what’s in it.