This interview was originally published on Laune by Emma McDonnell
Founded in 2023 by Kristie Chow and Michelle Li, Hauteline is your 411 for all things elevated fashion rentals. With curated pieces from global and emerging designers, Hauteline is a modern marketplace offering everything from Mirror Palais to Orseund Iris and everything in between.
Kristie was born and raised between Thailand and Malaysia, and before Hauteline, studied Computer Science at Dartmouth before starting her career as a software engineer at Microsoft and Farfetch. Michelle grew up in Southern California and, prior to Hauteline, studied Economics at UC Berkeley. She has experience as an investment banker at Centerview Partners and Head of Growth at Encore Shopping, along with modeling and content creation. Learn more about this brilliant pair taking on the fashion industry by storm below!
1. Tell me about Hauteline? How was it created and how does it work?
Hauteline was born out of a personal need—living in New York City in our 20s and working in fashion exposed us to an incredible variety of brands and styles. At the same time, we became acutely aware of how wasteful the fashion industry can be, which inspired us to dream of dressing more sustainably. This led us to seek out better ways to get dressed, like rental and secondhand fashion. However, when we looked at the rental options available at the time, we couldn't find anything that aligned with our sense of style or our desire for thoughtful curation and value. This gap in the market inspired us to start Hauteline.
Hauteline is a curated on-demand clothing rental marketplace designed to make fashion more accessible, sustainable, and playful. We ship nationwide with no subscription required, and also offer a showroom experience in NYC, where customers can try on a selection of unique and exciting styles in person.
2. Where does the name come from?
The name "Hauteline" began with “Haute,” a reference to haute couture, reflecting our commitment to quality and elevated style. We paired it with “line” to symbolize our sustainable, circular vision—introducing the image of a line that loops around again and again, a reflection of our company’s ethos to keep clothing in circulation far beyond the first wear.
We fell in love when we realized the definition of “hotline”: an automatic connection link to a preselected destination, without any additional action by the user. This concept resonates with our mission to create a seamless, tightly curated marketplace that connects you effortlessly with unique and exciting pieces. And so, Hauteline was born.
3. What is the LAUNE (mood) of Hauteline?
Hauteline is playful yet sophisticated.
4. How do you source your pieces?
We start by identifying the most interesting brands that we love, from emerging designers to established fashion houses. It helps that we are both chronically online, so we are constantly adding new names that excite us to our list.
We work with some of our brand partners on a traditional wholesale basis but also have a commission model, ideal for one-of-one pieces and samples. As we’ve grown, we’ve also worked on exclusive collaborations with designers to create custom Hauteline pieces, something we definitely want to lean more into this year.
The selection reflects the overlap in our personal styles. Our aesthetics are distinctly different so when we find pieces we’re both passionate about, we know they’re exciting and versatile enough to belong at Hauteline.
5. What inspires you?
The opportunity to truly make a difference inspires everything we do. Brands have the power to shape the way we live and we are lucky enough to find ourselves at a point in history where change has never been more important. We’re grateful that our work pushes the needle forward in the fashion industry and we hope to make the industry better from the inside out.
On a more granular level, every day we get inspired by the bold, highly-individualized styles of everyday New Yorkers. Hearing the diverse stories of our customers inspires the way we source for Hauteline, and we’re always grateful to NYC for giving us a community that shares our vision.
6. Tell me more about the value of circular and sustainable fashion.
We live in a beautiful time when wearing a piece that someone else has worn before is not only embraced but celebrated. Just a few years ago, thrifting and secondhand shopping were often viewed as less desirable alternatives to traditional retail. This cultural shift towards circular fashion is central to Hauteline’s mission.
Our model enables designers to benefit financially from their creations long after the initial sale. Through our commission-based system, we share proceeds from each rental with our brand partners, creating a new revenue stream for designers that doesn’t rely solely on producing and selling new items. It’s part of our broader vision to decouple the fashion industry from its dependence on constant overproduction.
At Hauteline, we’re committed to making the best fashion both sustainable and accessible. We take pride in giving you the opportunity to wear pieces that allow you to express yourself boldly and authentically. To us, sustainable fashion is true luxury.
7. What’s next for Hauteline?
We want to continue making dressing for any occasion effortless, affordable, and fun. To achieve this, we’re focused on expanding into new markets, hosting more community-driven events, and scaling our offerings to better serve our customers.
In our upcoming collections, you can look forward to a diverse mix of styles, including pieces from emerging designers, timeless favorites, and exclusive collaborations. We’re thrilled to bring even more variety to customers across the country, ensuring there’s something for every occasion.
P.S. Keep an eye out for our new showroom space coming soon ;)
8. Favorite sustainable designers/brands and why?
Our current favorites include Caspar the Label, Mila Sullivan, and Chopova Lowena, which all use deadstock or recycled fabrics in their core designs. Working in sustainable fashion, we recognize how much extra work is put into making designs truly sustainable, so we absolutely love the brands that go the extra mile.
We also both love shopping secondhand, either online or at a vintage store in NYC — our favorites include: La Coquine, 313 Vintage, 194 Local, Ecdysis, and Front General Store.
We’re also excited about emerging fashion-tech startups, like Werewool and Encore Shopping, that are changing what sustainable consumption looks like.
Rapid Fire:
1. If you could only wear one designer for the rest of your life, who would it be?
Michelle: Jil Sander
Kristie: Issey Miyake
2. What’s one product you could not live without?
Michelle: My L.L. Bean flannel pajama pants
Kristie: Pixi Hydrogel Under-Eye Patches… I like to think they help with the screen time
3. What are three staple items that every closet should have?
Michelle: Baggy trousers, cool sneaker, statement belt
Kristie: Black boots, black dress, interesting necklace
4. Describe your style in three words.
Michelle: Boyish, neutral, comfortable
Kristie: Classic + a twist
5. Early mornings or sleeping in?
Michelle: Easy. Sleeping in.
Kristie: Sleeping in but trying to be more early mornings in 2025
6. AM or PM skincare?
Michelle: PM
Kristie: PM
7. Dream collab?
Michelle: Hauteline x Ssense
Kristie: Hauteline x Simone Rocha
8. Favorite drinks spot in New York?
Michelle: Smør Bakery for an iced cappuccino (and cardamon bun)
Kristie: Usagi – great spot for matcha just a block from our showroom
9. Favorite restaurant in New York?
Michelle: Che Li – I <3 their pickled cabbage fish stew
Kristie: Soothr! Reminds me of home
10. Favorite style icon?
Michelle: NewJeans
Kristie: The women of NYC
11. Favorite movie?
Michelle: Perfect Days
Kristie: Lilo & Stitch
12. What are you loving right now?
Michelle: Dressing up a hoodie… comfort = key
Kristie: Layering up and throwing a chic black coat on top of it all
