Markable making it easier to shop the looks we love

Fashion bloggers and social media really changed the way people find their outfit inspiration. In the beginning, fashion bloggers didn't always post where they got their outfits from, which for those who wanted the item or a similar item found very frustrating. Joy Tang, a graduate of MIT, decided that she wanted to do something to solve this problem. That's how she came up with the idea for Markable.

Markable is a new iPhone app that allows users to buy virtually anything they see in fashion. Whether it is something they see on a blog, or something they saw going down the runway at Fashion Week, users can now "get the look" they want at a wide range of price points.

The app is targeted at the fashion industry. While it is not a direct buying service where you purchase things you might see in a magazine or on a fashion blog, what it allows you to do is shop similar looks based on a photo of something. Items can be in a range from as broad as 20 dollars for fast fashion items, to the thousands of dollars for luxury brands.

For those who desire those runway fierce looks, Markable has partnered with New York, Paris, and Milan Fashion Week's to be their only exclusive pre-order platform. If a customer is watching the lifestream of a runway show, they can pre-order the item on the app, and as soon as it becomes available in the brand's warehouse it will be delivered to them before it even hits stores.

Markable allows users to buy the looks they love through just a photo

While Markable might be viewed by some as a disruptor of the traditional luxury shopping space, the idea is that it will be very beneficial to any brand that is hip and desirable.

"We're providing companies an additional revenue stream," Tang said. "Traditional fashion shows are just pr, and they don't translate to revenue right away. We're skipping the middle man, we're skipping the buyers, and we have a direct to consumer revenue stream. This will increase the entire business cycle for the industry."

While the app currently only allows for shipping the United States, they plan to launch international shipping before Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks.

Although the app seems ambitious, Tang is a very smart businesswoman who knows how to build success. She came from a finance background, where she was so successful she managed to retire early. She decided to pursue her real passion, which is fashion. The business is backed by venture capital firms and angel investors. They currently have nine full-time employees and five part-time employees. There are two offices, one in Chicago and one in Madison, Wisconsin.

Currently, their customer base is evenly split between men and women. As for how she sees her app improving the world of fashion, Tang says "The problem we’re really solving is for the higher income, and busy, fashionable people. These people can afford to buy things when they feel attached as soon as they see it. They tend to make a faster decision. We’re helping them solve their problem of not having time to go to a mall or store."

photo via Atomic Coffee Media