The Design Republik all about wear-now

Have you ever dreamed of a website that offers you a 350 dollar outfit on the 8th of every month that you can pre-order? It probably sounds a little crazy, but, that is what The Design Republik does. This new e-commerce channel was founded by Kate Wallace, who spent two decades at Myer, Australia's largest department store and other retailers in positions such as creative consultant and senior buyer. Her partner is Garry Wallace, one of the founding members of Cotton On, the largest value-driven fashion company in Australia, which has eight brands under its umbrella.

Kate and Garry were inspired to create this website as a form of rejection to the traditional fashion calendar which causes retailers to sell apparel out of season, and instead have taken a buy-now-wear-now approach to fashion. What is unique about them is that they manufacture on demand, which helps them eliminate waste and lower their investment, because after all, self-funding is a risky business.

“We’re less focused on the seasonal element so we can deliver to the Northern and Southern Hemispheres,” Kate Wallace was quoted saying in Women’s Wear Daily. “The existing models don’t work. Dropping a heavy winter collection in the middle of high summer, especially in Australia where it’s 40 degrees Celsius [104 degrees Fahrenheit] doesn’t make sense. By the second week of April, the products are already heavily discounted."

There is no question that they certainly seem to know what they are doing. Their first delivery featured a double-breasted coat in two-toned bouclé wool, a sand-washed silk crepe de chine, and spandex ponte pants. The first men's delivery included a hooded wool zip coat, a knit turtleneck with rib detail, and drill pants in a soft enzyme watch. In addition to the monthly outfits, The Design Republik will also offer an ongoing selection of scarves, leggings, blazers, totes, and other accessories to supplement the outfits.

The company uses merino wool (the second finest wool after cashmere) imported from Australia and New Zealand, as well as Japanese denim and fair-trade imported cotton. As you can see, they use only the finest materials. In addition to a breadth of fashion knowledge, the Wallace's are also quite the philanthropists. They own a foundation called Inch by Inch Against Poverty which a percentage of their handbag sales goes towards, and they also donate to several environmental causes to help offset their carbon footprint. It's fashion with a conscience, and it's absolutely chic.