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    Fashion for Rent

    Texas entrepreneur launches Airbnb-inspired app for women's closets

    Nicole Jordan
    Apr 2, 2018 | 5:07 pm
    Rent My Wardrobe Founder
    Entrepreneur Rachel Sipperly launched Rent My Wardrobe to give women the ability to make money off of clothes they already own.
    Photo Courtesy of Rent My Wardrobe

    Most women have bought something on a whim, only to wear it once or twice, and then tossed it to the back of the closet or into the donation pile. Imagine renting out said item and reclaiming some, if not all, of the initial cost. Stings a little bit less, doesn't it?

    Rent My Wardrobe, the new app from Dallas-based entrepreneur Rachel Sipperly, is designed to do just that. A concept similar to Airbnb — but for closets— Rent My Wardrobe gives women the ability to earn income by renting out items already hanging in their closets.

    "Companies like Rent the Runway have normalized special occasion rental," says Sipperly. "But this concept presents a monetization opportunity for the two-sided marketplace."

    After signing up, members create an online closet to showcase pieces they'd like to rent out to local women. You set the rental fee, fill out a calendar with the item's availability (because there's nothing worse than realizing the dress you want to wear on tonight's date has been loaned out), and interested parties will contact you to arrange a fitting and exchange.

    A standard rental is for three days, and the suggested rental rate is 30 percent of the item's retail value, although owners can set it at whatever price they'd like. Parties can even work out details like dry cleaning requirements, but each rental includes a small "apparel assurance" fee.

    And, like any peer-to-peer service these days, you rate and review each other as users.

    It's like letting girlfriends shop your closet — if you had way more friends and they gave you cash every time they borrowed something.

    A budding entrepreneur, 28-year-old Sipperly launched the service to empower other millennials to think like entrepreneurs, becoming financially savvy "girl bosses" in the process.

    She plans get the word out by partnering with organizations around the city and pairing girls from affluent high schools with peers in surrounding communities who may be less fortunate. Women from all over the Dallas-Fort Worth area have signed up; ultimately, she hopes to expand the service nationwide.

    "It's popular to say you care about female empowerment," says Sipperly. "However, this is truly the heartbeat of the company and why it was founded."

    So far, designer and high-end dresses such as Alice and Oliva, Eliza J, and BCBG are attracting the most attention, the site says.

    Rent My Wardrobe is available for free via iTunes.

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    BOOTS TO THE GROUND

    Luxe Houston boot brand sets up court in Hill Country castle

    Brandon Watson
    Feb 10, 2026 | 4:30 pm
    Republic Wine Castle Johnson City
    Photo courtesy of Republic Boot Company
    This isn't exactly a typical location for a boot store.

    When most stores want to expand into a new town, they look at strip malls. Houston-based Republic Boot Company bought an entire castle. The company is turning Johnson City’s famous 290 Wine Castle at 10191 W US-290 into its newest outpost, though exactly what will happen behind the stone walls remains to be seen.

    Republic is known for its high-end artisan cowboy boots and celebrity clients like Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and team owner Cal McNair, plus unexpected fans like rapper Paul Wall. Although the flagship is housed in a 100-year-old building in Houston’s hip Heights neighborhood, the branding hasn’t exactly embraced turrets and drawbridges.

    “We’ve always said that Republic isn’t just about making boots; it’s about preserving the soul of Texas,” explained Chris Conrad, CEO and Founder of Republic Boot Company, in a release. “Acquiring this castle allows us to create a legendary destination where our customers can immerse themselves in the craft and make bucket-list memories. It’s bold, it’s unique, and it’s exactly where the Republic belongs. We have some wild plans for this property that the world hasn't seen before.”

    For now, the company is keeping most details a secret, but Conrad told the Houston Business Journal that the bootmaker plans to continue the winemaking and hotel business on the property. The castle compound has plenty of room to grow with 14 guest rooms, a tasting room, a cigar lounge, a covered deck, and a full commercial kitchen. Oh, it also has a full dungeon.

    Republic is no stranger to unique shopping opportunities. Its $6,000 Gator Hunt Experience allows clients to shoot their own alligator hide and make it into a pair of custom boots. Hunters also get a taxidermy mount, 10 pounds of alligator meat, and hopefully a few recipes on how to cook it.

    The brand’s expansion comes as the Texas Hill Country transforms from a well-kept secret to an international tourist destination. Among the upcoming attractions are The Meuse, a luxury retail center with a Lucchese store and a Waldorf Astoria hotel with a new restaurant from acclaimed chef Dominique Crenn.

    Republic Boot Company hasn’t shared any renovation details for the Medieval-style castle, built in 2019. The brand promises to reveal more details and a grand opening date in the coming weeks.

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