Today we’d like to introduce you to Mackenzie See.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The idea & motivation behind Niche has always been in my life in some capacity- I just didn’t exactly know what it would look like until shortly after I graduated college. I realized one of my true life’s missions was to combat fast fashion & trends that tell women they have to keep up to be relevant & let women know they are good enough just as they are. I wanted to create a safe space for women to shop & express themselves through their wardrobe & love themselves unapologetically for who they are!
So, with that mission in mind, I started Niche shortly after I graduated college right before the Pandemic hit in late 2019.
A way I figured I could help women feel more confident & love themselves for all that they are was to try and offer timeless wardrobe-building pieces you can mix and match and wear all year round. The hope is that with Niche you can build a wardrobe you love and that will transcend time & not go out of style so fast. In addition to trying to help those who aren’t as interested in dressing to the most current “trend”, my inspiration came from knowing how hard our society pushes the idea that we are not enough as we are and I wanted to create a place that defied that (call me a rebel) and let women know they can come as they are, however, they feel most authentic, confident and comfortable, in fact, I implore them to and want them to feel as if they are perfect just the way they are and that Niche is here, I am here to support them. To help them figure out what makes them feel their best inside and out. Niche isn’t just about clothes for me, Niche is an idea, a feeling, a mood, a happy dance, a safe place for women to feel enough and whole as they are. Of course, I love and truly adore the whole clothing part but it is much more than that to me. I want to be a resource of happiness, or support system, or a helper to those who need it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like any start to a new small business journey, it has not been easy! But it, of course, has been well worth it & I’d do it all over again. The greatest challenge I face on the regular is that I work a full-time job & have contract jobs in addition to running Niche. It can be a lot sometimes but I love it just the way it is.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am the owner of a clothing experience called Niche! Niche is an online experience & a safe place, to pick and choose what pieces of clothing fulfill your wardrobe dreams. I do everything to provide my people with the peace and comfort of picking from items that will make them feel the most beautiful in their own skin. The dream is that each piece of clothing can be paired, and mix-and-matched with other pieces of clothing to start, build, or complete a look. Niche is here to help you build a wardrobe, not fill a closet.
I’d like to think my specialty is helping women find pieces of clothing they feel confident in, build a wardrobe they love & love themselves even more!
I’m proud of how far I’ve come personally through this journey, stepping out of my comfort zone so much & putting myself out there. It’s a pretty scary thing to share a very important piece of yourself with the world! I’m also just proud that people care & proud that I’ve gotten to meet so many beautiful people thus far.
Everything about Niche is unique & stands out in my opinion, and that is truly the goal. To bend the “rules” to encourage women to be themselves and build a wardrobe, not fill a closet, to wear what they want, because they want to not because they feel like they have to.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I’d like to think I was a fun outgoing kid that LOVED being outside, traveling, playing sports, being at the beach, hanging with family & friends. But I also know I loved to read, watch movies, be alone & just chill. Fun fact I’m an only child so I think I’ve always had a bit of a combination of interests that are unique. I really enjoyed being around others & hanging out but I also loved alone time.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shopnichemarketplace.com
- Instagram: @shopnichemarketplace
- Facebook: @Niche
