for Gentle Magazine
The fashion business has been criticized for its fast pace many times before but this year, a change seems to be more important than ever. Especially young designers are put under a lot of pressure while dealing with the retail-world and with that a construct of buyers, order minimums, and delivery windows — aspects which made Tracey Suen and Jules Volleberg rethink the traditional retail model: During the pandemic, they came up with the idea of APOC Store, a platform which launched this summer and gives designers the chance to decide which items they want to sell on it, even if it’s just one single piece.
To learn more about their visions, concept, and upcoming designers, Tracey, Jules, and I met up in cyberspace at the end of November.
How have you been doing during lockdown and the pandemic?
Tracey: We’re ok, APOC Store is keeping us busy but the pandemic has been tough. 2020 has been a big year and I think a year for growth on many levels.
I couldn’t agree more. It has been a lot but some of it was long overdue. And how have you been spending your days during lockdown so far?
Jules: My days haven’t been too eventful, which allows me to really focus on APOC Store. I have been spending more time cooking which has been nice…
Sounds great to me (I wish I was motivated enough to cook more but it’s mostly pasta).
Tracey: Everyone I have spoken to has said the same thing. Work, cook, eat, drink, and then throw in a new hobby that they have always wanted to take up but never had the time to. I have also been baking this cheesecake that requires 1kg of cream cheese (which is a lot of cream cheese).
Okay wow, you need to send me the recipe because that honestly sounds like a cake I want to try out!
Tracey: Haha I will, it’s honestly the best cheesecake. I added matcha to it last time.
You also launched APOC Store during the time – who came up with the idea and how did it develop into what it is today?
Tracey: Before APOC Store, Jules and I have been working together for a couple of years. During the beginning of the pandemic and the first lockdown I really needed a change and to do something new that was my own. I knew Jules would be the perfect partner for this new chapter and so we discussed it and 3 months later APOC Store was born.
3 months is a pretty short time frame, it’s really impressive.
Tracey: Yes it is, I actually kind of can’t believe it!
read the whole interview here