Peter Thiel’s project capital firm, Founders Fund, has a portfolio that includes a few tech giants that form our world, including Facebook, Airbnb, Lyft, Spotify, SpaceX, and Postmates. But this week, in a bizarre twist, Founders Fund led a $four million investment in a women’s fashion label, Argent.
The emblem, co-founded with the aid of Sali Christeson in 2017, is a right-away-to-purchaser workwear startup. Argent wayside this area and fulfilled a very particular need within the marketplace, catering to female specialists seeking out realistic office attire that appears polished, however burly, formal, or female.
Christeson came from the tech industry and was privy to all the demanding situations women face in male-ruled industries. She desired to create clothes that removed many everyday hassles she noticed in girls’ workwear, like clothes that had been too tight or didn’t have practical pockets. Since the logo was released, women professionals in San Francisco and New York have flocked to it, scooping up the emblem’s suits, attire, and blazers equipped with a see-via iPhone wallet and key card pockets. Hillary Clinton was an early fan of the outfits, as became Kamala Harris.
Argent has been creative in its retail and branding strategy. It partnered with WeWork to create pop-ups for the ladies who use the co-working area. It often hosts networking and career development workshops for these girls, with the aim of creating a vibrant network for them. And the brand has an edgy, slightly subversive aesthetic. One image on the website capabilities ladies in suits with Post-its on their foreheads with the phrases “competitive” and “bossy” scribbled on them as a way to keep off against stereotypes of running ladies.
Founders Fund appears to be drawn to Argent because its target consumers tend to be rooted in tech. However, the fund additionally seems to be slowly expanding its patron emblem portfolio. It recently invested in Ritual, a complementary brand, and Year & Day, a tableware brand.
