Australia’s Fame and Partners nets $10m investment, plans LA move

By

Benjamin Fitzgerald

Published
May 9, 2016

Australian digital dressmaker Fame and Partners announced in April that it has netted US$7.6m (A$10.2m) worth of investment. It will use the money to expand into the US market, relocate its headquarters to Los Angeles and develop major distribution partners worldwide.

Fame and Partners’ recent Series A funding round was co-led by investors Firstmark Capital and Upfront Ventures. Two directors from the investment firms, founding partner Rick Heitzmann and founding partner, Yves Sisteron, will join the board of Fame and Partners.

The investment follows a successful angel round in 2014, which saw Fame and Partners close on an undisclosed amount with creative Enterprise Australia and the Sydney Angels Sidecar Fund.

Nyree Corby - a serial entrepreneur, launched Fame and Partners back in 2013. Corby’s online endeavour sells bespoke dresses that can be customized online based on size, colour, length and shape. Turnaround times are generally seven to 10 days but some of the made-to-order styles can be shipped as quickly as 48 hours from the time an order is placed.

Fame and Partners will use the investment to focus on growing it’s US market, which makes up about 70% of total sales. It will relocate its headquarters from Sydney to downtown Los Angeles and plans to hire 40 new staff members across the business through 2016.

Chief revenue officer and president (Americas) Leah Stigile, previous global vice president of e-commerce at ethical footwear brand Toms, has been confirmed

The funding will also be used by Fame and Partners to boost its supply chain and develop major distribution partnerships in the US and Australia.