This selection of fashion-focused startups appeals to both the sartorially challenged and the seasoned fashionista. These entrepreneurs are changing how we shop, dress, style ourselves and manage our wardrobes, while keeping us sharply dressed, looking our best and ready to impress – from the business level all the way to the buyer.
Austria
Gebrüder Stitch
The “Brothers Stitch” aren’t really brothers, but “bromance” duo Moriz and Mike produce in-demand, organic, custom-made jeans in Vienna.
Modekabel Media
Modekabel Media sprung from the writings of one of Austria’s first fashion bloggers, Maria Ratzinger, and acts as liaison between bloggers and companies in the Austrian fashion industry.
Silvia Gattin
Viennese-born fashionista Silvia Gattin combines her loves of travel and fashion, reinterpreting bohemian-style designs, fabrics and textiles from other countries (in collaboration with local artisans) for introduction into the western market by way of her online shop.
dasLaufrad
Started in Vienna and expanding to Germany, dasLaufrad is a convenient go-between listing and exchange service for secondhand baby and kids’ apparel.
ROLF Spectacles
Based out of Tyrol’s mountains, ROLF Spectacles is a family business specialising in innovative wooden, bamboo and woodstone eyeglass frames in hip, unique styles.
polychromelab
Startup polychromelab works from their Alpine mountaintop lab, creating and developing innovative, rigorously tested fabrics for use in athletics under extreme temperatures.
TATTOOMODELS.AT
Christine Zimmer founded TATTOOMODELS.AT, a modeling agency specialising in tattooed talent, providing more colourful, artistic options to the fashion industry.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Styledict
Styledict is a forum fashion community for exchanging and sharing apparel and style ideas by uploading and tagging photos, using filters and search options, and direct messaging between members to fuel conversation and exchange.
Bulgaria
La Koketa
Storing your actual wardrobe in a digital one, the La Koketa mobile app acts as “personal stylista” by assembling combinations of your own clothes, shoes, and accessories. It’s evolving into a social network, is equipped with a shopping feature, and has plans to partner with retailers and have a web-based app by the end of 2013.
Dragon Inside
This Bulgarian startup produces tailor-made, satisfaction-guaranteed suits from Italian and British wool at prices that won’t break the bank (that includes free worldwide shipping).
Croatia
Sizem
Zagreb-based Sizem has developed an app, aiming to help women learn how to measure themselves so they can find a fitting bra. It’s also an e-commerce shop so ladies can shop and compare styles and prices.
Estonia
Fits.me
Emphasising differences in “size” and “fit”, the recently expanded Estonian-UK Fits.me allows online shoppers to try on clothes in virtual fitting rooms using robotic imaging structured to personal specifications.
Hungary
Central European Fashion Days
Held in June 2013 for the first time, Central European Fashion Days, an initiative powered by Design Terminal, is a platform for upcoming Central European designers to showcase their work in a fashion show and professional business day for international buyers and managers of stores and showrooms, whilefostering cooperation and connection within the region’s fashion industry.
OurStyle Boutique
Young Hungarian fashion designers produce exclusive, handcrafted apparel and shoes in small ateliers. Their work is then sold globally through OurStyle‘s online shop and brick-and-mortar store, offering great value for unique creations.
Lithuania
StyleGrid
Vilnius-based startup StyleGrid has developed an app that helps you rediscover your wardrobe so you’ll never need to say “I have nothing to wear” again. Coming soon!
Poland
SHOWROOM
A comprehensive e-commerce platform for young, independent Polish fashion and furniture designers, SHOWROOM is used for the presentation, marketing, and sales of collections from over 400 new designers.
Fun in Design
Polish startupfest 2012 winner Fun in Design is a shoe lovers’ dream, crafting custom shoe styles from over 200 models and 100 materials.
Lookmash
Lookmash gives retailers an installable widget, allowing drag-and-drop product comparison, with the added bonus of polling friends for opinions or advice via Facebook or Lookmash users.
Romania
Haute – Fashion Color Advice
Haute – Fashion Color Advice is an app that transforms your device into a personal assistant with a penchant for colour. It pairs your pieces and potential new ones based on input and matched colour samples, plus collections can be browsed and your favourite looks edited and saved.
Ukraine
AstraFit
The 2013 winner for Best Interactive startup at IDCEE, AstraFit helps online retailers increase sales and decrease returns thanks to shopping accuracy using professional designers’ patterns. Analyzed aspects include fabric consistency, fit and non-constructive qualities.
EasySize
Using a size-defining tool through online fashion retailers, EasySize optimises the customer’s ability to find their proper size in clothing, shoes and lingerie. A new “Brand Conversion Tool” makes finding the best fit in new pieces possible by entering the brand and size of those you already own and like.
TshirtAbout.Me
This startup turns your Facebook page into a fashion statement. TShirtAbout.Me prints your social media profile onto t-shirts and sweaters.
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