Competition Overview

Many of the world’s most exciting, innovative retailers were born in New York City. Project Pop-Up NYC’s goal is to strengthen New York City’s position as a global fashion retail leader, home to the most cutting-edge stores and technologies. Part of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Fashion.NYC.2020 initiative, this competition recognized and rewarded emerging, innovative, New York City-based fashion retailers (both offline and online) and fashion-related technology companies.

Eleven winners were selected for this first-of-its-kind program and included:

• Acustom, which utilizes body scanning technology to allow clients to create a customized variety of clothing products. The scanner will be live at Project Pop-Up NYC and in use for people to experience, pre-order and shop 
• AHAlife, an e-commerce destination offering curated artisan, luxury products sourced from around the world 
• Fashion GPS, which connects people, events and products through digital tools that invite guests to fashion shows, track samples, facilitate commerce, and provide metrics for brands and publishers 
• Have to Have, a social commerce platform that is personalizing digital shopping by offering users an interactive experience to rate products  
• Of a Kind, which introduces emerging designers through editorial and e-commerce, commissioning and selling limited-edition pieces alongside their designers’ stories
• Outlier, an online retailer specializing in combining high-tech fabrics with traditional menswear looks 
• Perch Interactive, which turns any table surface into a hands-on, interactive display of the products it holds 
• ReFashioner, an online curated consignment marketplace designed for individuals and professional sellers alike 
• Shoptiques.com, an online fashion marketplace that aggregates the inventory of one-of-a-kind boutiques across the country - 160 boutiques in 20 U.S. cities. - allowing users to shop their favorite local shops in one place 
• Snapette, a location-based shopping mobile app and website to help shoppers find products and offers available in nearby stores  
• Style for Hire, a network of 150 stylists offering wardrobe audits and personal shopping to help people look better, shop smarter, and save money

Winners received one month of free retail or showcase space within the Chelsea-based retailer STORY, with 100% of sales going to the winning companies. The store opened during New York Fashion Week and will last through September 30^th. Winners will also receive a toolkit of business services, including PR and marketing support, mentoring from industry leaders, and exposure at key industry events.

The winners were selected by a panel of judges including fashion designer Norma Kamali; Brandon Holley, Editor-in-Chief, Lucky magazine; Vanessa von Bismarck, Founder, Bismarck Phillips Communications & Media (BPCM); Andy Dunn, CEO, Bonobos; fashion designer and retailer Steven Alan; and Shana Fisher, Managing Partner, High Line Venture Partners.