The immediacy and the accessibility of the internet never ceases to amaze me- nor do the great minds that brainstorm up the best ways to put it to use. Alas, it was only a matter of time before ‘securitized fund raising’ would come to the fashion industry. 

It feels like a blend between KickStarter- an online site that allows people to submit ideas that they need funding for- and Threadless, the site that allows its community to upload designs that are voted upon to then go into production. One company is set to launch this initiative this fall called Fashion Stake.

Basically, ‘supporters’ of the brand give say $50 to buy into the brand and help with the upstart or raise for that year. In return they receive private showroom sessions, possible designer audiences, access to events such as runway shows, etc. It is like being an angel investor on a small scale with quite a few perks. Not sure if there is a monetary ROI, as the site is not yet fully live- but even if it is all given back in a non-monetized way it seems like a great way to support the brands and designers you believe in and be an active member of their evolution. Brands would be very wise to start developing the platforms to host this kind of engagement.