| Interview with Wikifashion's Madeline Veenstra |
| Articles - Interviews |
| Written by Krista |
| Tuesday, 01 September 2009 15:20 |
 Interview with Madeline Veenstra of WikifashionI only recently discovered your website but instantly thought it was such an amazing concept as it will cover so many aspects of fashion in an unbiased way. Can you explain your own motives behind it all and what inspired you to put it together? I really love fashion and the Internet, and saw a need for a place where designers and fashion lovers could compile images, information and videos together- as opposed to having one person in charge. It’s fantastic that Wikifashion is created and owned by the community. Awareness of the website seems to be growing at a fast pace! How have you been marketing it? I’ve been working on Wikifashion for around a year now, slowly adding content myself. When it was at a stage where I thought others might be interested in what I’d done, I started a twitter account and started talking to others in the fashion industry. I’ve contacted designers, who have loved the site and contributed their own content as well as fashion bloggers who have been lovely enough to give Wikifashion a mention on their sites. I didn’t really have a clear marketing strategy in mind when I officially “launched” the site, I just contacted people who I thought might be interested in the site and made sure that I continually added content. Have you worked previously in the fashion industry or have any special contacts that helped you kick it all off? I haven’t come from the fashion industry; I actually worked as an economist. However while I was studying at university, I also studied journalism and loved the idea of being able to write for a living, preferably about clothes! I don’t have any contacts in the fashion industry, however I’m lucky enough to have a partner that is very handy with computers and who has helped a great deal with the technical aspect of the site. How much time would you spend per day working on the website site and also on the Internet researching what’s happening in the fashion industry? I probably spend around 3-4 hours every day adding content to the site, from magazines, fashion shows and articles, as well as helping other contributors. After that I spend a few hours reading my favourite blogs, fashion sites and managing my twitter account. What are your favourite fashion websites? I read too many blogs and sites to mention, however if I had to narrow it down to my top five, they would include: vogue.com.au Lady Melbourne- she’s fantastic for vintage clothing, photography and DIY; Girl with a Satchel- I read her blog before I decide on what magazines to buy each month; The Lip Print- I love this site for reviews on cosmetics, perfumes and makeup tutorials and last but not least- I love Mylookbook- an online magazine is so perfect, not to mention very economical. Visit Wikifashion at www.wikifashion.com |
| Last Updated on Tuesday, 01 September 2009 15:27 |
