The streets of San Francisco are paved withyoung menwearing hoodies, jeans, and T-shirts — thetech bro uniformpopularized by the likes of Mark Zuckerberg and other tech executives.
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A high-fashion apparel startup wants to create a better uniform for working women — and millennials are obsessed
Modern Citizen is defying J. Crew and Gap's curse and thriving.
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In 2014, Stanford graduates Jessica Lee and Lizzie Agnew decided to offer a fashionable alternative for women out of their home base of San Francisco. Modern Citizen, their direct-to-consumer apparel company, provides stylish, professional women with a curated collection of fashion-forward pieces, with many items priced under $100. Cashmere knits, wrap dresses, and relaxed-fit blazers provide comfortable alternatives to the Valley wardrobe staples.
Business Insider sat down with Modern Citizen's cofounders, Lee and Agnew, to see what the high-fashion e-tailer is doing differently to evade the retail apocalypse.
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Additional photography by Caroline Cakebread.
Jessica Lee and Lizzie Agnew make it sound easy starting a women-run fashion label in the city they call "Man Francisco." The idea was to create a brand for "women like us," Lee said.
Both 20-somethings loved designer labels but could rarely afford them. They didn't want to shop fast-fashion brands because the clothes are made as cheaply as they're priced.
Modern Citizen offers items for professional women who want to dress stylishly but comfortably, without breaking the bank. Most items retail for under $100.
Lee said the outfits come together easily and give wearers an added dose of confidence. "If you feel put together, you'll be put together," Lee said.
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After graduating from Stanford, Lee started her career at Gap Inc., where she worked on business strategy for Gap, Athleta, and Banana Republic's e-commerce platforms.
There, she kept tabs on competitors and saw that small fashion labels could build massive followings by having a specific aesthetic. The internet let them reach people anywhere.
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She and her cofounder, Agnew, an alumna of Stitch Fix and ModCloth, assembled a team of women to build their ideal brand. (Modern Citizen added its first male employee in 2017.)
The Modern Citizen aesthetic can be described as "minimal with a slight twist," according to Vogue. Each piece has something small that makes it special and goes beyond basics.
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The side-zip cashmere sweater is a customer favorite at $88. It uses a cashmere blend that makes it super-soft and machine washable, and the zippers add a touch of whimsy.
The vegan suede dress in rose gives a chic nod to the '90s. It costs $102.
The "Going Places" compass necklace is another "hero SKU" for the brand. Agnew said the $80 price point makes it a desirable compromise between costume jewelry and solid gold.
Over the past year, Modern Citizen has added more home goods and beauty products, in an effort to make the online store a destination for everything the modern woman wants.
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Most retailers launch collections based on seasons. Modern Citizen releases small batches of new apparel continually throughout the year, giving women new reasons to come back.
Every online order comes with a hand-written note from a Modern Citizen employee. She might look at your order history and offer suggestions on how to match the new item with an old one.
Over the summer, Modern Citizen opened a showroom in San Francisco in order to bring new customers into the fold and connect more closely with existing fans.
The company gathers feedback from customer surveys, return shipments, and personal styling appointments it provides for its most loyal shoppers. The showroom also provides a venue for Modern Citizen's "salon series" of panel discussions, networking events, and female speakers.
It's planning to open a permanent brick-and-mortar in New York in 2018.
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Modern Citizen hasn't achieved quite the same cult following as hip competitor Everlane, which saw $35 million in sales in 2015 and has over 400,000 followers on Instagram.
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But it's on its way.
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