The minds behind Merazine, the app that's reinventing shopping for Gen Z

Have you ever thought about how easy life would be if you could get dressed in the morning using a little avatar to try on different outfits without even getting out of bed? Or that online shopping would be so much better if it were easier to find emerging, sustainable brands that not only match your style but also fit your budget? Well, Krithi Reddy and Sreya Halder, two ambitious young women full of ideas, not only thought about it, but actually created an app combining both ideas into a revolutionary concept: Merazine. This app allows you to set your style, preferences, and budget to provide a wide range of small, sustainable, emerging brands. It also lets you try on pieces virtually with a customizable avatar, create moodboards, and participate in styling challenges while connecting with a global fashion community. Merazine was conceived by young women in their twenties, for young women in their twenties. We had the chance to chat with these two inspiring creators, resulting in a conversation brimming with ideas, creativity, and a strong dose of girl boss. Here’s what emerged from it.

It all began with separate ideas merging into one powerful concept. Reddy, at the time, was running a small personal shopper business in New York, sending weekly fashion recommendations to about 250 Gen Z women. Meanwhile, Halder, a content creator, was working on an app that would help her choose her daily outfits using a personal avatar. «We both wanted to launch a fashion project that would make online shopping easier and help people discover their personal style. So, we simply combined our ideas: hers was focused on personalized shopping, mine on creating a playful, game-like experience for consumers. This is how Merazine was born: fun online shopping focused on small and medium brands. Everything is highly personalized, but, above all, fun for users,» they explain.

In addition to dressing a small avatar with digital outfits reflecting real clothes available on the app, there's also a feature offering users a daily theme for creating lookbooks and mini moodboards, allowing them to explore creative looks they might not have thought of otherwise. The community aspect naturally came into play. «After a few months, we thought it would be interesting for users to see what people from their school, city, or network were creating on Merazine, so we built a version that allows users to view each other's saved items, similar to a social media feed. Just follow friends, curate your feed, and get tons of inspiration and recommendations,» Halder notes.

And it’s not just users benefiting from this blend of practicality and creativity – emerging brands are also thrilled with Merazine’s presence. «Brands are very excited because it’s tough to compete with fast fashion nowadays. They’re happy to have a platform where people come specifically to discover them. We’re equally excited about helping Gen Z shoppers find clothes and engage with fashion while also helping brands reach their audience.» When it comes to selecting brands, the two entrepreneurs are adamant: no fast fashion giants are allowed. Only design-oriented small or medium brands that offer unique, quality products are featured. In a market that often feels overwhelming with rapid trends and impersonal consumption, Merazine stands out as a tool that may reconnect Gen Z with slow, thoughtful, individualized, and, most importantly, personalized fashion.