TAELOR: YOUR VERY OWN ‘AT-HOME’ STYLIST IS HERE!

26 Magazine| Sep 25, 2023

It’s 8:30 a.m. You have a breakfast meeting with your boss at 9 and after that, you have a casual anniversary lunch date with your partner. Your closet is in shambles; you’ve spent the better part of your morning rummaging through ties, blazers and collared shirts. A tie is too fancy for the day’s activities, but a button-up shirt isn’t enough. The clock is ticking as you realize…

YOU NEED A STYLIST!

Meet TAELOR, the internet’s hottest innovation in custom menswear tailoring. Founded by Anya Cheng and Phoebe Tan just three years ago, what was once a baby-new start-up is now a rent-and-renew subscription service backed by million-dollar investors and rivaling some of the biggest names in rental fashion.

Both Cheng and Tan have a history with technology and innovation, two of the major skills that set TAELOR apart from other custom apparel services. Cheng got her start in Silicon Valley, while Tan was VP of procurement for a food company. The two met in Chicago during college, and their shared love of fashion brought them together to create an outside-of-the-box subscription service that is different from more seasoned names like Rent the Runway and Stitch Fix. While Rent the Runway offers custom styling solutions, one of its downfalls in Cheng’s eyes is that customers have to actually purchase their looks. This defeats the whole purpose of a short-term, circular rental service.

TAELOR thrives on feedback. If a customer writes back saying, “I’m a size medium and need something for date night,” or “I really love red and blues,” TAELOR’s stylists take the customer’s words and run with them. Fashion is a constantly changing beast; our outfits fluctuate as often as our bodies. Seasons, moods, routines and special occasions all dictate what gets used or forgotten in our closets. TAELOR’s expert stylists know this; this is why they want your feedback. By the time the next month rolls around, an entirely new look is sent to the customer based on their evolving style developments.

If customers wish to take things a step further, they can meet with a stylist for that one-on-one consultation. Together, the nitty gritty of their style needs can be serviced. During the consultations, the stylist will send the client initial emails of their recommendations that tailor their entire wardrobe.

A WIN-WIN COLLABORATION

Not only does this result in more traction and revenue for the brand, but it also provides them a seamless way to enter circular fashion with very little investment. According to Cheng, partnered brands’ financial incentives also revolve around unsold inventory pile-ups or new collection ideas that they need to light a fire under. This is where brands can take advantage TAELOR’s constant customer feedback, and tailor their own style developments accordingly. “They’ll say things like, ‘Hey, I'm curious about how many more I should produce?’ or ‘How can we test our new collection on TAELOR?’” explained Cheng. Small investment and big rewards are what TAELOR offers brands because it’s all about providing personalized customer satisfaction…which makes it hard for a customer to be disappointed, given that they have a hand in the process every step of the way.

“It’s an easy, modern way for them to play dress up,” Cheng added. “They can look good without spending a lot of time, energy and money on their style."

Click here to read the original article on 26-Magazine.com - by LAURIE MELCHIONNE