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Fashion Hell
Brand: KURB
Design: Jean-Paul Bakkenist
Copy: Jean-Paul Bakkenist

You may not like it, but the fashion hell is a real place, and I’m (or should I say: we’re) speaking from experience. Fashion hell is not the nauseating overwhelm that grips you walking into a Zara store; it’s not having to live with the fact that fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world; and neither is it the inverted relationship between quality and price even among luxury brands we once cherished. Fashion hell is realizing that the majority of the clothes are below par, and that perhaps the garments worth the attention are no longer even being made anymore. It’s a state of mind one is forced into simply by having your once-existing enthusiasm and belief in the system eroded. But with this also comes the incapacity to give up on it entirely, because what makes it hell is the fact that you keep going, lower and lower, to find something that makes it all worth it. Despite the continuous storm of garbage hurled in your direction, a small flame in you keeps burning. Because deep down, we all love the beauty and excitement of it all as much as we love to hate it. Before letting the lucid midday revelations go too far, the most important takeaway is this: as you’re trekking down the interiors of these wastelands, circumventing the jagged rocks below your feet, and regulating the heat within your lungs, once you reach a certain layer, you may not ever find your way back. And you may not even want to either, because now you know that the best things are found where others don’t want to go.

And perhaps the point of our platform is not to fear the fall into the KURBhole, but to embrace it. Because who knows what you’ll find?

Reverse image search
Brand: KURB
Design: Jean-Paul Bakkenist
Copy: Jean-Paul Bakkenist

A couple of weeks ago, we introduced reverse image search functionality to our platform, enabling you to use whatever image to browse the second-hand designer market. Each of us working at Kurb has their own unique history of spending countless hours looking at clothes online, be it on forums, Japanese auctions, or retail websites, and no doubt dreaming about being able to acquire the clothes for real. And back in those days, the gap between the garment online and our physical wardrobe was wider and contained a lot more noise; you needed skills and insider knowledge on how to navigate that space. Our goal with Kurb is to remove that noise, and create a map for anyone wishing to delve into the designer doom scroll with more poise. We’re confident that reverse image search will serve as another valuable tool in your browsing toolbox.

Feel welcome to check it out on kurb.online!

Sourcing Tool
Brand: Kurb
Design: Jean-Paul Bakkenist
Copy: Jean-Paul Bakkenist

A few months ago we introduced KURB Pro, representing an ode to the fashion resale community. It adds an additional layer to the searching power of KURB by bypassing your need to always keep your eyes peeled on the doom scroll. KURB Pro finds the finds for you and sends them directly to your device of choice, allowing you to be first to discover the latest (and at times: rarest) drops. For those out of the loop, KURB Pro comes at a cost of $4 a month — a modest number given the potential value it has in enhancing how you navigate designer resale.

But to pretend that KURB Pro is merely a feature would be disingenuous to our users whose presence with and enthusiasm for KURB we deeply value. The reality is that it also serves to sustain the project.

Since its inception, KURB has been a bootstrapped project that has never yielded any profit. Over the past three years we’ve continuously injected our own money into the project to pay for servers, software, storage, and administration. But this cannot go on indefinitely. So here we are, placed in a position everyone rather avoids: having to ask you for your support.

Over the past months we’ve explained the benefits of KURB Pro to you, but sometimes things need to be experienced first-hand for it to make sense. So if you’re passionate about fashion and resale like us, we’d really urge you to give it a shot — it costs less than a croissant and we’re confident it will positively impact the way you search, buy and engage with resale fashion.

There is so much we still want to do for fashion, resale and the KURB community. But we can only succeed with your help.

Thanks for your support!

Tabi meme
Brand: Kurb
Design: Jean-Paul Bakkenist
Copy: Jean-Paul Bakkenist

There’s nothing like finding a new resale store, especially one whose aesthetic aligns with yours. Like discovering a new bakery on a side-street you never bothered to enter, your internal map of the landscape is now permanently altered. Now you know there’s at least one out there with an even stronger psychotic drive towards cemetery fog, the smell of broken rose stalks and the vintage Ann Demeulemeester that comes with it, or whatever your fantasy may be. But we’re in a bit of in a resale boom phase; new stores are erected on a seemingly daily basis, and with that comes a feeling of overwhelm and fear of missing out: “if this exists, what else is out there?”. And sooner or later, you’ll have dozens of different resale stores to juggle between in your head and dozens of tabs to flick between in your browser.

This is unsustainable. At least for freaks like us who like everything organized - in one neat place, and who like to be instantly notified when our favorite stores have new arrivals. Browser tabs are like a digital manifestation of what goes on in our heads: a lot of things at once. But there’s something to be said about having only one thing to focus on. Some will say we thrive when our mind is pointed on one singular direction. Or as Archimedes once said: “give me a firm spot on which to stand, and I’ll move the earth”. With KURB we try to achieve exactly this - an environment that allows people to discover the wonders of designer resale in the most focused and convenient manner possible.

That’s it for the fashion stream of consciousness of today. If you have things to say about designer resale, or things to ask, or things to improve about KURB, please join our Discord! Link in Bio.

Drops functionality teaser
Brand: Kurb
Design: Jean-Paul Bakkenist
Copy: Jean-Paul Bakkenist

Though we started more than two years ago, we’re still nowhere near where we can be. Our goal is to realize the full potential of the resale space, while empowering people to reap the fruits of pre-loved fashion without limits. But the road there is marked with obstacles and inevitable diversions; there is always going to be room for improvements, especially so in an industry known for its insatiable drive for innovation.

We’re proud to announce that we’ll be dropping a new update to our platform soon, which we anticipate will provide a major boost to your garment hunting experience!

KURB Pro Teaser
Brand: Kurb
Design: Hanna Torseke
Concept: Jean-Paul Bakkenist
Copy: Jean-Paul Bakkenist

What if all finds could find their way to you? Soon.

KURB Campaign
Brand: Kurb
Design: Jean-Paul Bakkenist
Copy: Jean-Paul Bakkenist

A few months ago, we released KURB PRO, which represents an ode to all the fashion enthusiasts and doom-scrollers among us, and the inner child within us who once spent hours online to find those Rick Owens and Helmut Lang steals. Though spending time scrolling through clothes online can be great fun, it never guarantees success; the good deals inevitably get sold quickly and can slip between our fingers just like that. Neither do most of us have the time or energy to wait for them to pop up. At least not anymore— being adults and all.

The KURB platform hosts almost 30 million second-hand garments from all over the world, including from platforms such as Vinted and Vestiaire Collective to the small independent stores typically found in the world’s major cities, and all the miscellaneous entities in between, such as auction houses. This enables a significantly more convenient process of finding the garments you want, and omits all the typical noise as you venture through the digital world of fashion. In short, we want to make second-hand designer fashion as easy and rewarding, no matter how experienced a fashion doomscroller you are.

With KURB PRO, we’re taking things a step further. By enabling you to leverage the power of your personalized filters, you can have your favorite garments come to you, by way of notifications — to your device of choice. Every time garments that match your filters are added, you’ll know instantly. In other words, no longer does your eye need to be peeled to the scroll to get a chance at those rare drops or steals — KURB PRO does the work for you.

If a serious upgrade to your searching or sourcing process sounds compelling, please check out kurb.online and navigate to KURB Pro to learn more!

KURB Meme
Brand: Kurb
Design: Jean-Paul Bakkenist
Copy: Jean-Paul Bakkenist

If you’ve been following us for a while, you know we’re no stranger to providing how-tos and various guides. As seasoned secondhand designer enthusiasts, we know it isn’t easy to grasp the landscape; it’s overwhelming and intimidating for many at first sight. But the more you delve deeper into the trove of designer resale, the more you will realize the potential it has, and the treasures that are hidden within. With Kurb, we aim to provide a guiding light through the darkness and provide clarity on what’s available, and how to get it. Whether it’s a cherished garment across the globe, or if you’re simply waiting for that rare release from a few years ago, our wish is to crush the barriers between you and the wardrobe you want.

Love talking about designer fashion? Feel free to join our discord! Link in Bio.

KURB Meme and sustainability critique
Brand: Kurb
Design: Jean-Paul Bakkenist
Copy: Jean-Paul Bakkenist

We can’t lie. Even uttering the word “sustainability” gives us a weird taste in our mouths — like knowing you’ve eaten something rotten but did it anyway because everyone else in the room did too. And then it’s only the next morning you realize the difference between your gut feelings and the opinions of others. When will you learn? That’s the question. But we’ll allow our intestines to take a hit for the sake of communication with the rest of the world — only because we all really want to make a positive impact to it. Everyone navigates this ethical dilemma differently; some don’t care at all; others do and drop consumption to a minimum; some only consume mindfully; and then there are some who don’t know what to do at all — who need pointers. This post is meant for everyone, but particularly the last group.

Here’s something to drill in your head: there’s no such thing as sustainable clothing. All you can do is wear your garments as long as possible.

The simple rule is to focus on garments and designers that are good regardless of their association to the dominating aesthetic trends of today. How do you know? A good start is to train your eyes and hands to what makes a good garment, and cultivate a fascination for the sartorial rules that had been broken and innovated on. Other than that, you can learn about the cultural context of a given collection/garment at the time and see how you relate to them on a personal level. The emotional charge of the political issues that renowned designers comment on never really change. In fact, they are always bound to come back into public consciousness eventually. Other than that, there’s a simple given of learning what kind of clothes make you comfortable and most at home in yourself. This takes time. The most important thing is to allow yourself to make mistakes.

ASKET Archive e-mail
Brand: ASKET
Design: —
Copy: Jean-Paul Bakkenist

We pride ourselves in our rigorous focus on detail and the never ending search for garment improvements. This philosophy however, has one downside: it sometimes forces us to let go of garments turned outdated or to pass on those that don’t live up to our quality standards. This is why we created the ASKET Archive. Not just to prevent waste, but especially to give everything we create the wear they deserve. The garments found here might be a little different, but they still reach an exceptionally high quality. So here’s your chance to give them a second life.

The garments found in The Archive are priced 20-30% lower than those in our Permanent Collection. The exact reduction depends on whether the garment belongs to the expired or second grade category.

ASKET re-stock e-mail
Brand: ASKET
Design: —
Copy: Jean-Paul Bakkenist

The Lightweight Tee is as essential for the hot summer days as it is a layering powerhouse in the depth of winter. Capturing a coming-together of airiness, softness and fit perfection, we designed it to be a garment to always return to. Check below to revel in a new batch of unending comfort.

ASKET Layla interview e-mail
Brand: ASKET
Photography: —
Copy: Jean-Paul Bakkenist

We sat down with Layla Hermkens: a Stockholm-based stylist who regularly supports our photoshoots. Despite being deeply immersed in the fashion industry and exposed to a wide range of styles, she remains pragmatic with her personal aesthetic and subscribes to the notion of a capsule wardrobe herself.

Here Layla shares her own philosophy and tips on how to cultivate a personal style, reach contentment with your wardrobe and how to do more, with less garments.

ASKET coat guide
Brand: ASKET
Photography: —
Copy: Jean-Paul Bakkenist

Acquiring a Coat that satisfies all needs, goes well with all the garments in your wardrobe, fits well and also lasts for a long time is an endeavor that cannot be underestimated. Many fall victim to the sheer overwhelm of choice that exists, eventually settling for a compromise, or not finding anything at all after having spent countless days scrolling the internet. The coat, after all, makes up the backbone of your wardrobe — a true pièce de resistance that’ll ultimately dictate its aesthetic direction. Once the coat is acquired, many of your future garments may have to bend to its parameters. “Yes these pants are nice, but does it go well with my Coat?” are but few of the questions you’ll likely see yourself asking once the coat has claimed its space. But this dilemma can either largely or completely be avoided, be it by subscribing to the philosophy of the Capsule Wardrobe or by investing in a coat that has been specifically designed to combine with anything, all the while retaining functionality and the invaluable quality of timelessness.

In essence, our coats exist to put an end to your search for a coat.

ASKET T-Shirt e-mail
Brand: ASKET
Photography: —
Copy: Jean-Paul Bakkenist

When speaking of essentials, the T-Shirt is one of the first to come to mind. Well, our minds at least. It holds a special place in our hearts; it’s the first garment we ever released, making it more of a quintessential rather than an essential. Our iteration is meant to be an amalgamation of all the better elements of the T-Shirts we had tried before, while omitting the excess. And we arrived at something truly wearable everyday, ready to be pulled on and pulled off with equal effortlessness, no matter the person or occasion and to do so for years.

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Aug 2037

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