I've recently been introduced to this new website called I-Ella.com. This is a new innovative, fashion-forward, charitable online marketplace. It's INVITATION ONLY and users can Buy, Borrow, Swap and Sell/lend the latest must-have fashion apparel, accessories and more. As a member not only can you buy the latest designer apparel at discount prices, you can also let other member know your selling your goods, or let them borrow for a small fee, or you can simply swap items. Ten percent of each transaction fee will be donated to a charity or social venture!
Today, I-Ella is auctioning off pieces from Whitney Port's personal closet!! As seen on "The City" items may include the very Whitney Eve Blazer that the reality star wore to her very first NYFW show.
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I-ELLA Announces Launch of E-Commerce Site
Where Celebrity Styles and Charitable Donations Meet
I-ELLA Invites Users to Share Their Closets
In a Digital, Invitation-Only Fashion Destination and Marketplace
I-ELLA is an innovative, fashion-forward, charitable online marketplace where invitation-only users can BUY, BORROW, SWAP + SELL/LEND the latest must-have fashion apparel, accessories and more. Not only can members buy the latest designer apparel at a discount, they can also share their own prize finds with other I-ELLA users by electing to sell their wares, let others borrow them for a small fee, or simply swap. In addition, ten percent of each transaction fee will be donated to a charity or social venture. Women and men will never look at their closets the same way again.
Better than an annual closet-sweep resulting in items donated to friends and family, I-ELLA will clean out your closet for you. Picking-up, packing and shipping will be handled by mailing partners locally to start the selling and shopping process.
How It Works
Buy/Sell: Seller indicates actual retail price (even if item was purchased on sale). I-ELLA suggests a 35-40 percent discount over retail, but seller ultimately sets price. Seller keeps 90 percent of buy price. I-ELLA keeps ten percent of transaction (whereas most consignment shops keep at least 25 percent). I-ELLA donates ten percent of their fee to one of three charities selected by the buyer.
Borrow: Items can be borrowed for one week or one month intervals. The lender sets the price. When the item is borrowed, I-ELLA keeps a ten percent transaction fee and ten percent of that fee is donated to a charity selected by the borrower.
Swap: Items can be swapped for a flat fee of five dollars per item per user (regardless of the item value). Ten percent of the five dollar fee is donated to one of three charities selected by recipient.
Insider’s Closet
I-ELLA also features celebrity auctions. Loved that piece Whitney Port wore on the red carpet recently? What if you could buy it? Well, now you can. I-ELLA opens up the closet of a different celebrity each week, beginning with stylist Mary Alice Stephenson, MTV’s The City star, Whitney Port, legendary model, Veronica Webb, as well as other top-notch A-listers. Each celebrity pulls together their most-loved pieces and gives history for each. Users then bid on items during a two-day auction, with proceeds benefitting the celebrity’s charity of choice. Stars have the opportunity to share their love of fashion with fans while promoting a good cause. In addition to celebrities, fashion industry veterans from editors to stylists will have the opportunity to sell their pieces and promote their causes as well.
Shop + Give
I-ELLA is more than an e-commerce site with a give-back mission. Every time a consumer shops on I-ELLA, a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to various charitable and social ventures selected by I-ELLA’s editorial team, such as Keep a Child Alive and The Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure. Users will then have the option to direct proceeds from each transaction fee to one of three charities selected each month.
“We are thrilled to provide consumers with the opportunity to buy discounted designer styles through this unique platform while promoting positive social change through charity involvement,” states Ella Gorgla, founder of I-ELLA. “I-ELLA will provide an exclusive, invitation-only platform not just to buy and sell last season’s Prada like many other online retailers, but also to borrow and swap pieces from other users’ closets as if close (and fashion-savvy) friends, serving as the go-to shopping destination.”
Founder of I-ELLA, Ella Gorgla, is a native of Monrovia, Liberia and actively promotes sustainable development and social impact investing in Africa. A graduate of Columbia Business School, Ohio State University School of Engineering and London Business School with additional studies at Yale University, Ms. Gorgla strongly believes in the ability of fashion and retail to create positive social change.
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