Nothing to wear and dreading a trip to the mall? Don’t bother. In fact, erase the mental route to previously favored shopping destinations and instead, stretch your fingers and get that plastic at the ready.

Smashing Darling is an emerging online community for the independent fashion world that operates as a marketplace, resource and collaboration area for emerging designers and fashion enthusiasts who think outside the mall. Launched in February, 2007, owners Trish Ginter and Julie Rorrer operate from a simple business model – they take 18% of each sale to keep the internet engines a humming, and in return, over 150 indie fashion designers and vintage shopkeepers have set up shop, enjoying the benefits of Smashing’s services, including:

• Multiple Stores
  Forums
  Links to videos, fashion shows, video interviews
  RSS feeds
  Invites and Subscribes to keep customers aware of new listings

And the thing is, even though the fashion itself is a rave – Smashing Darling has attracted designers who really do provide everything from that wear-anywhere vintage dress, to live-in comfy skivvies, to dramatic accessories, and gotta have it bags, it’s their commitment to helping indie designers succeed and profit that is so inspiring.

Since fashion visionaires Trish and Julie are all the way in Connect-i-cut, and moving in/raiding closets/trading BFF necklaces is not an option at present, PR Couture caught the busy fashion bees for a little cross email adoration.

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