How did Robe Raiders come about?
One of my partners, Resham Melwani (center; pictured), wanted to clear her wardrobe without having to give her designer clothing and bags away when they were still in good condition. She came to me with an idea of a luxury resale pop-up event—which I’ve done several before. Our third partner, Claudia Sondakh (who’s behind multi-label online store Retail Therapy, far left; pictured) was on the same page, so we all joined forces.
How did Robe Raiders become so successful?
What appeals to our customers is being able to own a Hermes top, Prada skirt, Bottega Veneta bag or Givenchy dress for a fraction of what it costs, though the bulk of our stock are past season. It also helps that most of our consignors are well-traveled and fashion savvy so we have managed to carry apparel from it labels like Azzedine Alaia, The Row, Alessandra Rich and Opening Ceremony, in addition to the more well-known designer brands. We also do stringent checks on brand, condition and desirability.
How often do you hold a physical pop-up sale?
We always aim for around three to four a year. During our pop-up sales we work with other vendors who we feel complement Robe Raiders—like Curated Editions, an accessories retailer and F&B sponsors such as like Swirls Bakeshop and La Tarte Tartin. Now that we have a permanent showroom, customers can also check out our goods in between pop-up events.
Any nasty experiences?
We almost sold a fake designer item! A new shipment came in from a consignor and before we could check it thoroughly, a customer, who was present at that time, wanted to buy it immediately. Thankfully, we hadn’t priced it yet, so we couldn’t release the product. Thereafter we scrutinized it, realized it was a replica, and returned it to the consignor who told her she wasn’t aware as it was a gift.
