Innovative Irish fashion portal very much in Vogue

Image via WikipediaI was reading about the Innovation Avalanche on the ever excellent Trendwatching a few days ago when I came across one particular entry which sparked my curiosity. Irish fashion portal Catwalk Genius was highlighted under a section entitled 'Crowd Express', a trend tracking "everything funded, organized, sourced, managed and powered by crowds."

"Irish fashion portal Catwalk Genius has joined the crowdfunded fashion fray with its new Adopt a Designer program, featuring fashion and accessories from independent designers. Through Adopt a Designer, supporters of a participating designer can buy shares (or "elements", as it calls them) in their work for EUR 14—plus a EUR 1 processing fee—in the hope of sharing in future profits. Once 5,000 such elements have been sold, the designer is given the resulting EUR 70,000 to create a new collection within 6 months. In the meantime, supporters receive a limited edition piece created exclusively for them by the designer."

The venture got further flattering attention on Trendwatching's sister site Sprinwise (another mine of information for entrepreneurs). And today Catwalk Genius hit the online pages of Vogue.

Clearly an exciting busines model and dynamic young company to be watched.