5 January, 2024

Fashion

By Corséa

How did you both meet and decide to start this business together?

We met on a night out and clicked instantly! We became close quickly as we had heaps in common. One similarity was having aspirational goals - we were individually keen to start something entrepreneurial, so after some chatting and planning we found a mutual interest in sustainable fashion and figured out that we could work well together!

Starting TTS blossomed from a rough idea - we found that it could be a good hustle to introduce us to the business world, but over time we found that it had more potential than we realised.

We originally wanted to create something sustainable and accessible for a wider market, so a dress rental business appealed to us. Our passion grew as rapidly as our business did, as we realised along the way that helping girls feel their best is super rewarding!

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned since starting?

Balance is key! TTS started as a hobby/hustle so we didn't think it would consume our lives. We've had a few instances of burnout in the past, so maintaining a good work-life balance helps us stay motivated and refreshed to continue going. With a business, there's always something that can be done, so we've learned to create boundaries for ourselves in order to have a life!

What's one thing you wish more people knew about sustainable fashion?

That it can be affordable without sacrificing quality and taste!

For so long, the only sustainable second hand option was thrifting. As fun as this is, it's pretty hard to find occasion wear and a hot, perfect fit for a special event.

Ethical, low-impact clothing brands are so valued by us, and we're stoked to see more of them prevalent in the fashion industry. However, many sustainable brands have quite a high price point, making conscious buying unaffordable for the majority, especially a younger demographic. Renting is not only easier on your wallet, but enables access to a wider variety of  brands and styles.

What's one fashion trend you wish would come back?

Wearing gloves with evening gowns - nothing wrong with being a lil extra!

And what's the most challenging for you to run a dress hire?

Any instance/potential to disappoint a client is definitely the most challenging aspect for us. Due to having a rotation of our garments (not just output of products), there is an inevitable unpredictability of exactly when a rental will arrive back to us, and what condition it may be in. Since many of our clients hire for important events, we really strive to provide each individual customer reassurance and an overall amazing experience, but we can’t always guarantee this (and it breaks our hearts!)

Trying to keep everything as objective and organised as possible definitely helps - we constantly refine our policies and procedures to work towards our goal of ultimate customer satisfaction. Everything is always a work in progress!

Open communication and mutual respect are huge factors for us. Taking time to step back and think from the other's perspective is something which is important.

If we have differing opinions or disagreements on an important decision, we often take time to step back and rationalise the situation while still keeping in mind emotional factors. This helps us to come to a fair and objective decision (especially since we are both passionate!).

How do you resolve disagreements or different opinions in business decisions?

One word that describes your friendship with one another

Profitable! (and unconditional, but two words would be cheating)

How do you like to spend your weekends in Melbourne?

We're all about variety! We like to change things up and spice up our weekends with a lil break (if we're not working haha - things can get busy here at TTS!) Whether it's dinners, bars, events, movies or a night in, no two weekends are the same! We love trying out new places around the CBD, and in summer we often go down to St Kilda or around the Peninsula for day trips or long weekends.

What’s one thing you can’t live without?

It may sound cheesy but family! We are both blessed and privileged to have such supportive families - from helping pack dresses to providing emotional support when things get tough, our beautiful parents and siblings (especially our mummies!) have always been there for us and will always be constants in out lives, which is incredibly reassuring and motivating.

What advice would you give to other duos thinking about starting a business together?

We'd definitely recommend establishing boundaries from the beginning. Identifying business requirements and delegating roles according to individual strengths helps to not only split up the workload, but to also have a basis of what's expected of one another, resulting in a smoother running business. A partnership agreement is a great objective tool for this.

A business partnership is vastly different from a personal relationship, and it isn't all smooth sailing, but it is important to acknowledge each other’s strengths rather than dwell on each other’s weaknesses. Since you're working together closely, it's important to validate and encourage each other to develop professionally in a supportive environment.

And be proud of your successes! It's easy to look into what can and could be done, but we try our best to also look at how far we've come, and be grateful/proud of our progress. Every success deserves to be acknowledged and celebrated!