Company co-founders Hassan Pierre and Amanda Hearst.
From relatively humble beginnings as a pop up concept shop carrying just ten brands, luxury ethical retailer MAISON-DE-MODE.COM has grown into an omni-channel platform stocking a range of over seventy, with a mission to lead the way in making sustainability the future of fashion. And to help scale the business further, it has just raised $600,000 in a seed funding round led by Carmen with a team of angel investors.
Founded by Amanda Hearst and Hassan Pierre, MAISON-DE-MODE.COM fuses concept brick-and-mortar experiences with an online boutique, and carries a range of ethical luxury brands that span ready-to-wear, fine jewelry, accessories and homewares. The entire company inventory adheres to at least one of what are referred to as “sustainability icons,” ethical pillars that it has identified to easily enable consumers to make better-educated purchasing decisions, and these include ‘Recycled’ ‘Organic’ and ‘Artisan’, as well as ‘Made in the USA', ‘Charitable’ and ‘Cruelty Free’.
MAISON-DE-MODE.COM plans to use the new funding to growing the size of its team, invest in new technologies to enhance its website, and expand into new product categories, including childrenswear and health and wellness. "The funding gives us the security and ability to take risks," explained Pierre.
With the seed round, Carmen, who met Hassan Pierre at the Costa Rica Fashion Summit, will join the Advisory Board, as well as become a partner alongside the co-founders. “Carmen’s experience as an investor and a partner is invaluable,” said Pierre. “With Carmen on board, what were once five-year goals for us are now feasible by next year,” added Hearst. “She brings business expertise in the e-commerce sector that is unparalleled.”
And Carmen admits that she has a lot to learn from the co-founders too. “Hassan and Amanda can create but also be a great platform for communicating the ethos we believe in and expand awareness about slowing down fashion; as fashion the way it is, is not sustainable,” she said.
Read more about MAISON-DE-MODE.COM here.