We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chloée O’Hayon-Crosby. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chloée below.
Chloée , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.
How The Collectivist is Expanding Industry Standards
Traditionally, costume rentals have been centered around established costume houses, which provide invaluable resources to the industry. However, access to these resources can sometimes be limited by business hours, geographic location, or availability.
The Collectivist complements and expands these existing industry options by offering a digital, peer-to-peer marketplace where costume designers, stylists, PR showrooms, and even costume houses themselves can list and rent out inventory in a more flexible, on-demand way.
Why This Difference Matters
1. More Access, More Opportunities
• While costume houses are a pillar of the industry, The Collectivist broadens access by allowing independent designers, stylists, and even collectors to participate in the rental economy.
• This makes hard-to-find, unique pieces more accessible to productions of all sizes.
2. Bridging the Gap Between Fashion & Entertainment
• Historically, fashion showrooms and costume houses have operated separately.
• The Collectivist creates a shared platform where stylists, PR showrooms, costume professionals, and collectors can cross-pollinate—opening up new collaborations and revenue streams.
3. Flexible Logistics for Industry Professionals
• Costume houses, stylists, and productions often need last-minute solutions.
• The Collectivist’s DoorDash integration and rental marketplace help keep productions moving, whether they’re renting from an individual or a larger inventory source.
A Story That Illustrates This Difference
Recently, a stylist working on a music video was in a bind—she needed a specific period costume piece but couldn’t access a rental house before the deadline.
• She turned to The Collectivist, where another costume designer in the network had the exact piece in her personal collection.
• Within hours, the rental was arranged, and the costume designer earned income while the stylist met her deadline.
This is what The Collectivist is all about: enhancing the industry, supporting costume professionals, and creating new opportunities for everyone.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
About Me & My Journey
My name is Chloée, and my career in fashion, costume design, and styling has been anything but traditional. Born in Spain, raised in France, and now based in Los Angeles, I’ve spent my life immersed in fashion and design, shaping a career that merges creativity with business innovation.
My journey started with a bold move to Paris, where I talked my way into fashion school despite my parents’ initial hesitation. That risk paid off, launching me into a world where I’ve worked as a costume designer, wardrobe stylist, and fashion entrepreneur—designing for Cirque du Soleil, styling celebrities, and serving as the Costume Director for the Los Angeles Ballet.
Through these experiences, I saw firsthand the gaps in the costume and fashion industries—especially when it came to accessibility, rentals, and collaboration between designers, stylists, and productions. That’s what led me to create The Collectivist.
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What The Collectivist Does & The Problems We Solve
The Collectivist is an international, peer-to-peer platform that allows costume designers, stylists, PR showrooms, collectors, and vintage stores to rent and sell clothing and accessories directly to one another. It’s the first of its kind—built to offer an alternative and complementary option to traditional costume houses.
Here’s what sets us apart:
✅ More access, more options – We expand availability beyond the 9-to-5 structure of traditional costume rentals.
✅ Flexibility & fair pricing – Designers, stylists, collectors, and vintage stores set their own rates, giving them more control over their inventory.
✅ Same-day rentals & delivery – Through DoorDash integration, we provide a speed that the industry hasn’t seen before.
✅ A community-driven marketplace – Instead of renting from a single warehouse, clients rent from each other, creating new revenue streams for creatives.
This means that costume designers can monetize their archives, stylists can find unique pieces at the last minute, vintage stores can expand their reach, and productions have a seamless, flexible alternative to traditional sourcing.
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What I’m Most Proud Of
1️⃣ Building Something That Didn’t Exist Before – The Collectivist is solving real problems for fashion and entertainment professionals, and seeing people excited about it is incredibly fulfilling.
2️⃣ Overcoming Challenges & Breaking Barriers – I built my career from scratch, moving to the U.S. with no industry connections, and through sheer determination, I carved out a name for myself.
3️⃣ Bridging the Gap Between Fashion, Vintage, and Entertainment – The Collectivist brings together three worlds that have often operated separately—creating opportunities for fashion designers, costume professionals, and vintage retailers to collaborate in new ways.
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What I Want Potential Clients & Followers to Know
• The Collectivist is built for creatives, by a creative. I understand the struggles of last-minute requests, limited budgets, and sourcing challenges—that’s why this platform was designed to make life easier for stylists, designers, productions, and vintage retailers.
• We are not replacing traditional rental houses—we are expanding the ecosystem to make the industry more accessible, more profitable, and more collaborative.
• Whether you’re a costume designer with an archive, a stylist looking for the perfect piece, a vintage store wanting to reach a wider audience, or a collector looking to monetize your fashion investments, The Collectivist is here to serve you.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Absolutely. One of the most defining moments in my journey—one that truly tested my resilience—was when I first moved to the U.S. to build my career from the ground up.
I had no connections, no financial safety net, and no roadmap for how to break into the costume and fashion industry. Unlike many professionals who get their start through referrals or family ties, I had to carve out my own space in a city where I was a complete outsider.
The Challenge
Early on, I landed a costume design job for a major production, and I was thrilled—this was my first big break. But within days, everything started falling apart.
• The budget was slashed last minute.
• The producers were demanding miracles on an impossible timeline.
• I didn’t have the network of suppliers or assistants that more established designers relied on.
I worked nonstop, barely sleeping, trying to pull it all together—calling in favors, sourcing wardrobe pieces from every corner of the city, and even hand-finishing costumes myself just to meet the deadline.
The Breaking Point
At one point, a critical shipment was delayed, and I was left with a huge hole in the wardrobe lineup just days before filming. The producers didn’t want excuses—they wanted results. I remember standing there, completely exhausted, thinking, “This is it. I can’t pull this off.”
But giving up wasn’t an option.
The Turning Point
I pivoted fast—instead of waiting for the missing pieces, I reached out to my growing network of stylists, local designers, and even vintage shop owners, pulling together last-minute replacements that actually ended up being better than the original plan.
By the time the production wrapped, not only had I delivered beyond expectations, but I had earned the trust of producers who continued hiring me for years after that. More importantly, I realized that my resourcefulness and ability to adapt under pressure would be my greatest assets.
What This Taught Me & How It Led to The Collectivist
That experience shaped the way I approach every challenge in business and fashion.
• It made me realize how broken the sourcing process was for costume designers and stylists—which is part of what inspired me to create The Collectivist.
• I saw firsthand how having access to a larger network of independent designers, stylists, and vintage sources could be a game-changer—which is exactly what The Collectivist provides.
• It taught me that resilience isn’t just about pushing through—it’s about being resourceful, adaptable, and finding solutions where others see roadblocks.
Now, every time I face a setback—whether it’s building this business, securing partnerships, or scaling The Collectivist—I remind myself:
If I could survive that, I can figure out anything.
This journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s made me who I am—and it’s why I’m so passionate about building something that empowers other creatives to succeed without having to struggle the way I did.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
The Lesson I Had to Unlearn: Vulnerability is a Weakness
For the longest time, I believed that in business—especially as a woman in a competitive industry—you had to always appear strong, put-together, and in control. That showing doubt, uncertainty, or struggle would make people question your ability, and that success came from proving you already had everything figured out.
But what I had to unlearn was that vulnerability isn’t a weakness—it’s one of the strongest ways to connect, inspire, and get people on board with your vision.
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The Backstory
When I first started The Collectivist, I thought that in order to attract investors, collaborators, and early adopters, I had to present the business as if it was already a fully polished, foolproof success story.
So I did what I thought I was supposed to do:
• I spoke in perfectly rehearsed, polished pitches about market opportunities and industry pain points.
• I downplayed the challenges and uncertainties I was facing.
• I tried to position myself as someone who had all the answers, thinking that’s what people needed to hear to take me seriously.
But I quickly realized that this approach wasn’t working.
• People weren’t emotionally connecting with the business the way I hoped.
• They seemed impressed, but not invested.
• The energy in meetings felt flat, like I was just another entrepreneur with another startup pitch.
One day, in a meeting with someone I really admired, I found myself completely dropping the polished pitch. Instead of trying to prove I had everything figured out, I spoke honestly:
“I built The Collectivist because I’ve lived the struggle firsthand. I know what it’s like to be a costume designer or stylist with no easy way to get the pieces I need. I know what it’s like to lose opportunities because the industry is built on outdated systems. I don’t have all the answers yet, but I know this platform is something the industry needs, and I’m figuring it out every day.”
For the first time, I saw real engagement. Instead of nodding along politely, the person across from me leaned in, started asking questions, and offered insights. They weren’t just evaluating the business anymore—they were emotionally invested in its success.
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What This Shift Taught Me
✅ People don’t just invest in businesses—they invest in people. When I started being honest about the challenges I was facing, people weren’t scared off—they actually wanted to help.
✅ Perfection isn’t relatable, but passion is. The moment I stopped trying to present a “perfect” version of my business and instead shared my real passion for solving this industry problem, everything changed.
✅ Vulnerability invites collaboration. When I started sharing the process, the hurdles, and the real story behind why The Collectivist exists, I didn’t just gain supporters—I gained true partners who wanted to help make the vision a reality.
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How This Plays Into The Collectivist Today
This mindset shift completely changed how I approach business today:
• When I pitch The Collectivist, I don’t just talk about the numbers—I talk about the real people who will benefit from it.
• I openly share that this is a first-of-its-kind platform, and we’re learning and evolving as we go.
• I let my passion and personal connection to the problem lead the conversation, rather than trying to “sell” the business in a robotic way.
And you know what? More people than ever are getting on board.
I used to think that showing my cards—my struggles, my learning process, my journey—would make people doubt me. But in reality, it’s what made them believe in me the most.
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What I Want Others to Take Away From This
If you’re building something new—whether it’s a business, a career, or a creative project—don’t be afraid to show your heart.
People connect with realness, not perfection.
And sometimes, the thing you’re scared to share is exactly what will inspire someone to support you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shopcollectivist.com
- Instagram: @styled.by.chloee
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloeeohayoncrosby?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
