Services that send clothes to people with a subscription already exist, but thanks to a UF graduate, there is now a service specifically for college-oriented outfits.
About three weeks ago, UF mechanical engineering alumna Paula Pettit founded Parcel22, a Forever 21-style clothes subscription site. The service costs $49 per month and allows users to try a variety of clothes for as long as they like, with the option to buy them at a discounted price.
The 23-year-old said she used a similar service, which provided business-casual clothing, while working an internship. After returning to Gainesville, she found there were no similar services for more casual, cute clothing, she said.
After subscribing, customers fill out a brief survey, then scroll through a list of inventory in an Instagram-style website where users can then “like” different outfits and accessories.
From there, three clothing items and two accessories are picked for each user, Pettit said.
The style of clothes is marketed toward 20-somethings and is based on trends found on Instagram and around Midtown, she said.
Shortly after the service launched, incoming UF freshman Valeria Barreto signed up.
Barreto said she has received two boxes since starting, and that she plans on keeping the subscription through her first semester.
“It’s totally worth it,” the 18-year-old said. “I know a lot of people that go shopping and spend $50 on three tops. You can get endless amounts of clothes as soon as you return it, and you just pay 50 percent of it.”
Paula Pettit
