We didn’t really need another reason to love ModCloth’s eclectic collection of clothes and accessories, but they’ve given us one anyway: their “Make the Cut” Customer Collaboration Collection. This week, the San Francisco-based online retailer launched a private label comprised mostly of user-submitted designs available for purchase. 

After a call for design sketches on the ModCloth blog last November, their chief creative officer narrowed the almost 2,000 submissions down to a trim 90, then put them up for an open vote on the ModCloth Facebook page. Winners ranged from trained and amateur fashion deisgners to high school students to fashion-loving moms. The winning pieces are now available on Modcloth.com.

Too often, “crowdsourced” competitions result in a watered-down, company-altered version of what consumers really want. However, ModCloth executed a transparent, democratic campaign that carries out the company’s mission to involve customers in the production process, thus creating an engaged (and well-dressed) online shopping community. Votes have already been cast for a second collection of of user-generated designs that will launch in September, and a third, holiday-themed contest will be announced in coming months. Not happy with what’s on the racks? Start sketching!

The first time that this Pugs in Space necklace was on Modcloth.com, it sold out so fast heads spun. Are animals in space the new iteration of the space design trend? 

Everyone at Trendera knows that my love for retail site ModCloth knows no bounds. The truth is, I can usually browse the accessories section and figure out a new trend or two that will pop up elsewhere soon after. It seems that the buyers there are being inspired by all things Paris right now, so brush up on your French fashion! 

Source: ModCloth