Last Tuesday, June 25, the Austin Young Chamber hosted the Austin Fast Start pitch competition for Austin based, early startups in the fashion industry. For this competition, Fashion was broadly defined to include apparel, accessories, or a service or store in the fashion industry. Applications were accepted early June, judges representing the small business, startup, and fashion communities scored the applications mid June, and three Finalists participated in the pitch competition last week.

The three Finalists included Joey Ro, Mary Claret, and Swayy. And so each finalist took the stage in the Breakfast Taco Presentation Room at Google Austin (which hosted a truly remarkable view of Lady Bird Lake) with five minutes to pitch their business idea to both our judges and an audience of 110 for a chance to win $2,500 in cash plus $7,400 in in-kind prizes.

After three presentations and three rounds of exceptional Q&A, the scores came in. The Austin Young Chamber is honored to announce the winner of the Austin Fast Start for Fashion…Mary Claret!

Pitched by founder Andie Day, Mary Claret clothing fashion is designed to be lived in, traveled in, and loved for years.  Garments are cut with extra fullness to flatter customers and provide comfort and ease, made with natural materials, machine washed and pre-shrunk before the garments are even sewn, and sewn in the United States with quality fabrics and components sourced the world over.

Congratulations to all the finalists on their truly excellent pitches and business ideas, and congrats to Mary Claret!