Meet Nada Shepherd, fashion veteran, expert and founder of ReSuit, who’s contributing to the “Fashion Revolution.” 

A revolution takes time. It takes planning, learning, and unlearning. It takes an idea that is cultivated with care and collaboration. The revolution of ReSuit started over 20 years ago. Back then, Shepherd started her own label making clothing for people she knew, winning multiple awards and accolades along the way. All of this was done with the goal of learning everything she could about the supply chain and what the factories where her clothes were being produced were really like. 

Visiting London in 2007, Shepherd noticed that even high-end stores like the iconic Harrods were packed with “stuff” – products that were made cheaply to quickly create room for the next trend. It was overwhelming and made her feel sickened with the state of the industry.

Having spent nearly two decades learning the ins and outs of the business, having visited factories herself in China, and having a deep understanding of sustainability thanks to her coursework during her MBA studies, Shepherd’s idea for ReSuit was planted. She cultivated it for 8 years, building on her desire to upend the fashion industry. 

It was my pleasure to check in with Nada, founder of ReSuit, to chat about her inspiration behind the company and why she is so passionate about the “Fashion Revolution.”

When did your love for fashion begin? 

Nada Shepherd (NS):My love for fashion started at a very young age around five years old. My mother was very stylish despite our modest means. She always presented herself well and took pride in her ability to look fashionable. She taught me that how we present ourselves is a sign of respect to others as well as a sign that we respect ourselves enough to try. As a function of our culture, the abundance of home sewing, and our limited resources she would often sew her own dresses – something that I also learned how to do from a young age. We would bond over discussing how we would put looks together in clothing stores and watch Fashion Television together. She would share insights about the collections and garment details with me.

I attended a visual and performing arts school from grade five onward and my eye and love for clothing only grew from there.

What inspired you to create ReSuit?

NS: I was inspired to create ReSuit after years of watching and participating in the fashion industry. I watched and felt the pressure to create more faster, for less, business practices which are fundamentally not sustainable on all fronts. ReSuit is my offering, my vision if you will, for both designers and consumers to interact with clothing differently and revisit how we view clothing’s place in our lives.

What is ReSuit’s Mission?

NS: At ReSuit, our mission is to make fashion accessible to everyone, everywhere, while respecting the planet. We will create this revolution by facilitating the power of peer-to-peer marketplace enabling each user a friction free journey where they can track not only their personal ROI but that of the planet as well. 

 

Why should consumers prioritize renting over retail? 

NS: Renting allows users to rotate their looks/closets frequently without the accumulation of “stuff”. Many of us are spending more time at home and need to re-evaluate how we use our space at home. On the flip side of the equation, renting items from your closet allows people to make a little cash on items they still love but are not using often such as a LBD or designer handbag.

What is your long-term vision for ReSuit?

NS: I have a very large, global, vision for ReSuit, one that allows an easy, fun, novel and cost-effective way of interacting with clothing away from the current status quo. We want to reinvent how humans consume fashion. We want to be the premiere provider of self- expression while healing the planet and supporting those who have been impacted the most as our society moves away from the traditional resale model.

Can you talk about how ReSuit is contributing to the “fashion evolution?”

NS: I appreciate how the “fashion evolution” is a big statement and is currently linked to a particular cause in the fashion industry. That said, like many businesses and industries, we are all being invited to evolve or get left behind. The method in which clothing is manufactured, distributed, and purchased is changing. Consumers want more options and retailers/designers understand the negative impact of our industry on the planet and certain populations. There are many companies offering a solution to what is a very large and complicated problem, i.e. the business of fashion. ReSuit is offering a point of view or a solution for consumers without having to manufacture more clothing.

How can consumers get started with ReSuit? 

NS: Getting started with ReSuit is super easy! Consumers can download our free app (USA and Canada), create a profile, and start listing and or purchasing/renting.

ReSuit is not just a fashion community – it’s a community for change. Follow ReSuit on Instagram @JoinReSuit and download in the App Store or on Google Play.