With expertise in business and product engineering, Julia identified a gap in modern commerce and built a first-of-its-kind platform that democratizes fashion access and promotes circularity. In less than a year, Pickle cultivated a thriving community, circulating 100,000+ items from 2,000+ coveted brands, fueling lucrative side hustles, and introducing a new way to shop. Under Julia’s leadership, Pickle’s growth has skyrocketed—it now rents more in a week than in its entire first year, has more than tripled its supply year over year, and continues to expand its community and on-demand rental markets. Her innovation and impact have earned her recognition—from Forbes (Forbes 30 Under 30) to Inc. (Female Founders List).
Pickle’s success is fueled by community trust and real brand love. The majority of our growth comes from word of mouth. Sometimes it's as simple as someone saying, “I love your outfit, where’d you get it?” and the answer sparks a conversation about renting through Pickle. Other times, it’s about someone sharing how they turned their closet into a side hustle. Influencers and creators have also played a big role, posting about their favorite way to try a trend without committing to it—or how they’re making fashion more accessible and affordable through their own Pickle closet. That organic energy has been everything.
The sharing economy isn’t slowing down—it’s evolving. Uber and Airbnb showed us what’s possible with cars and homes. Now, we’re asking: why not do the same with what’s already in our closets? The future is about rethinking ownership, maximizing the value of what we already have, increasing access, and creating circular, more sustainable economies.
This is definitely not the “end of retail”—it’s a shift in how we engage with it and expanding what’s possible. For example, we’re extending the lifetime of garments in people’s closets. We’re also encouraging people to invest in quality pieces that can be shared, loved, and even become a source of income. And it gives shoppers an affordable, circular way to explore trends without feeding into fast fashion. This is the next generation of retail.
There’s no one secret—but relentless problem-solving has been key. I’ve never believed in impossible problems. There’s always a way forward—you just might need to look at it from a different angle, pivot, or approach it with more creativity.
Sarah Blakely. Her grit and scrappiness in getting Spanx off the ground is endlessly inspiring. I love the story of her first customer—she literally had her try on the product in a bathroom. She met people where they were and let their voices help grow the brand. That grassroots mindset is something we channel at Pickle every day.
My twin sister. But if I have to name a thing—it’s my phone. It holds thousands of connections I’ve made on this journey.
Fashion-wise, I’m loving the sheer and pleated wedding guest dresses trending this year—I have four weddings coming up, so I’ll be renting a few of those myself. I’m also excited about the return of baby blue for spring and bold pinks and reds in the summer.
For my career: The Cold Start Problem by Andrew Chen. It gave me my first deep dive into network effects and how to build marketplaces. It completely changed how I approached building Pickle from the ground up.
For life: a children’s book called Panda Palace. It’s about a dinner party that keeps filling up, but the host always finds space for one more guest. That message—“there’s always room for one more”—was a value I grew up with. My family made sure everyone felt welcome, and that spirit of inclusion has stuck with me in everything I do.
