By Business & Finance Aisling Byrne
In our Ones to Watch section, we highlight some of the top movers and shakers in Ireland. This week we feature Nu Wardrobe.
What is it?
The Nu Wardrobe is an online platform where members share clothes with friends and other nu members in their community. Users gain access to a changing wardrobe that’s convenient to use and inexpensive, and as a community, we extend the lifecycle of our clothes and significantly reduce waste.
The product works like a social network. Everyone uploads clothes and we can borrow from each other in a safe and secure environment. The platform can be used in the same way all over the world.
Each time an item is shared we offset 25% of the resources that would be used in the production of a new item and we save money.
Good for the planet, good for your pocket.
Who’s behind it?
Aisling Byrne founded The Nu Wardrobe after spending time in India and seeing first-hand the social and environmental costs of the fashion industry, the second most polluting industry in the world. Aisling graduated from Trinity College Dublin and later worked in media before launching her business. She wanted to enjoy fashion in a more sustainable way but this proved expensive and often inaccessible, so she set up The Nu Wardrobe. With Nu, we can borrow outfits from each other in a safe and secure environment
How is it funded?
The Nu Wardrobe was first funded by Trinity Launchbox, Dublin and more recently by Climate KIC after winning the London City Challenge to implement sustainable fashion solutions across London and Bethnal Green Ventures, the tech for good accelerator based in East-London.
Future plans?
We are currently raising a £250,000 seed round to build our team and grow The Nu Wardrobe in the UK and Ireland. After this, we will be raising our series A to expand globally as the platform can be used in the same way all over the world.
