Alternew is a circular fashion startup in New York. It seeks to connect its customers with a network of tailors who repair or modify their garments to extend their useful life. Alternew relied on Monnou, a Valencian circular design studio, for the design of the digital experience of its service.

◇ Objective: To facilitate the connection between tailors and customers to minimize garment waste, and facilitate the tailoring of clothes for diverse bodies.

◇ Timeline: In mid-2022, the design of the two-sided app and the admin panel that allows Alternew to manage everything was completed. Since then, Alternew is in search of investors to finish the development of the app, which is expected to be completed by mid-2023.

◇ Impacts achieved: To support SMEs in advancing their goals of reducing their carbon footprint and environmental impacts.

◇ Partners: Alternew has several partners. Monnou, a circular design studio, is in charge of the digital experience design; Alyssa Lostetter, with more than 20 years of experience in the fashion industry, is in charge of the sartorial direction; in addition to other external consultants and content creators.

Alternew has long been dedicated to alterations (repairs, adaptations…) of clothing with a vision of circularity and social impact. Its mission is to make it easier for people to alter their clothes according to their convenience. In this way, they can still feel good in them, regardless of the diversity of bodies; and, on the other hand, it minimizes the number of garments that are discarded and must be manufactured and bought again.

The startup wants to take a leap, automating its service digitally and scaling the business. To do this, the Valencian circular design studio Monnou has been in charge of carrying out the research and design of the digital experience. This is materialized in an app that can be accessed by both types of profiles, customers and tailors; and in an administrator panel that Alternew’s internal team can use to manage the entire process and measure the impacts of their service.

Monnou and Alternew’s project has been present in the From Spain With Design exhibition, in the Sustainability axis, as an example of how design can contribute to a circular economy and positive impact. Monnou and Alternew are a success story in terms of client-designer collaboration. Monnou continues to collaborate with the New York startup to boost the communication of its value proposition and reach positive impact investors.