This startup looks to empower independent fashion designers

Shafaq Saeed was frustrated with the fashion industry. After a decade of working multiple jobs while juggling her fashion line, she decided to help struggling indie designers like herself get the word out. This month, she’s soft-launching IndieFaves.com, a Rosslyn, Va.–based ecommerce platform that aims to connect global consumers and buyers to independent designers.

“We want to be the place for people to go and discover from independent designers,” Saeed told Technical.ly DC. “Indie designers get overlooked, because everyone is focused on big-level designers, but these guys are just as good. They deserve credit for it and visibility.”

Saeed’s business model is similar to Rent the Runway, which allows consumers to rent styles from popular designers from $30 to $159 a month.

“Renting is the future of retail,” Saeed said. “And independent designers have limitations on their technical knowledge, resources, all the things needed to make a successful brand.”

Saeed, a native of Pakistan, moved to the U.S. in 2000, and received a degree in management information systems from the University of Texas at Arlington. She’s spent the last decade building software for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Deloitte, Best Buy and Chase Bank and started her fashion line in 2008.

IndieFaves customers will have options to rent clothing and accessories for four, eight, 14 and 21 day stretches, with designers taking a commission from the rentals.

Saeed is building her list of designers, who pay no up-front costs.

“Our designers have extremely unique visions,” Saeed said. “We aim to be the go-to portal for customers and fashion consumers to discover and empower independent indie designers.”