Founders' Story
Looking back on the day we met, it's almost like fate brought us together. I was a new emigrant trying to find my place in New Zealand, while she was the social butterfly that everyone wanted to have at their events. We were like two puzzle pieces that had finally found each other and it was only a matter of time before a genuine friendship turned into a sizzling business partnership.
We started off in the fashion industry, selling custom-made European gowns to fashion lovers in New Zealand. It was a great success and soon after, we founded iRentNZ. We rented out our unique pieces, which piqued the interest of local fashion enthusiasts. But then, the pandemic hit and everything changed.
As the fashion industry shifted, we knew we had to change too. Our goal became crystal clear - we wanted to build a platform where people were in control. A place where anyone could have their cake and eat it too, no matter who they were in the fashion industry.
Co-Founders of feimso L to R: Ina Feimi and Erin Sokolowsky
And that's when the magic happened. We had a 'Eureka!' moment and envisioned a daring, futuristic business model. The million-dollar question was, 'What if...?' We immediately called each other and, in a single excited breath, blurted out the idea. After extensive market research, countless business meetings, and more than a few sleepless nights, we developed feimso.
feimso is not just another online platform. It's a community where people can monetize everything fashion. It's a place where creativity and uniqueness are celebrated, and people can connect, inspire, and collaborate with one another. It's the democratisation of the fashion industry, giving power back to the people and bringing value to their personal style and fashion items.
March 2021 feimso Planning, research and early work.
It's safe to say this is when I had my 'Eureka!' moment. Visions of a daring, futuristic business model flooded my mind and I was left with the million dollar question: 'What if...?' I immediately called my partner and, in a single excited breath, blurted out my idea. Silence. Then, 'That's good. That's really good,... if you can pull it off.'
And there was only one person I could pull it off with - Erin. Many people were doubtful and, frankly scared of the idea's magnitude. For them, I was punching above my weight, but not for Erin. She believed in it as much as I did and together, one step at a time, I knew we were going to make it happen.
We've created a platform that resembles a living, architectural being, one that shapes and adapts to people's experiences and evokes every user's individual journey. What started as an idea and a solution to a personal problem has now taken a life of its own - bringing the fashion world together - supporting sustainability, circular economy, accessibility to unlimited limitations.
So, buckle up and join us on this journey because this is just the beginning. We're revolutionizing the fashion industry, one step at a time.
Image: The first prototype of feimso on phones for testing 2022.