eBay Australia, supported by the Australian Fashion Council, has proudly announced Hello Tailr as a shortlisted winner in eBay’s 2025 Circular Fashion Fund, recognising their innovative approach to revolutionising clothing alterations and repairs.

Hello Tailr offers a simple, convenient service that allows customers to arrange clothing alterations and repairs with ease. By providing door-to-door shipping options and making the process as seamless as online shopping, Hello Tailr is transforming the way consumers think about clothing maintenance. Their goal is to make clothing repairs and refashioning as common and accessible as purchasing new items, promoting a more sustainable approach to fashion.

We spoke with Owen about the journey behind Hello Tailr, the lessons learned in building a service focused on convenience and sustainability, and how the company is shaping the future of clothing repairs.

1. Could you share some insights into your background and the journey that led you to start Hello Tailr? 

Hello Tailr was inspired by my own frustrating experience. Like most online shopping today, buying a pair of pants online was effortless—they arrived at my doorstep a few days after ordering. The experience gets frustrating from there. As a shorter person, nearly every pair of pants I own needs shortening. Having recently moved to a new suburb, I had to spend time researching "tailors near me," only to find options were limited. Eventually, I found a tailor that was quite a drive away, dropped the pants off, and returned days later to pick them up—only to discover they'd mistakenly shortened them by six millimetres instead of six centimetres. Having to repeat this tedious and inconvenient process sparked the idea that there must be a better way, and that's how Hello Tailr was born. 

2. Having founded and served as CEO of Obee, what inspired you to start this venture, and how does it dier from your previous business experiences? 

Obee started from a personal frustration back in 2010. I was trying to book a restaurant for a date, but after multiple unanswered phone calls, I finally secured a last-minute spot. It got me thinking—why was something as simple as booking a table so difficult? That experience led me to build Obee, and over the years, I watched as phone bookings became less common and online reservations became the new norm. 

Hello Tailr has come from a similar place—another personal frustration, this time with clothing alterations. After struggling through a tedious process just to get a pair of pants hemmed, I found myself asking the same question: why is this so inconvenient? Is there a better way? Hello Tailr seems like a much bigger challenge. Technically it's a challenge to make the range of services simple and easy, but also we'll need to see a mindset shift where repair and circular fashion become the norm. The experience I gained from Obee gave me the confidence to take this on. I’d love to see another societal shift happen—this time towards people rewearing, repairing, and refashioning their clothes as a natural part of how we consume fashion.

3. Hello Tailr is revolutionising the way we think about clothing alterations and repairs. How do you see the role of technology in extending the life cycle of garments, and how do you envision its future? 

I’ve now spent over a year and a half in this space—which isn’t long compared to many—but what excites me the most is the craft! I encourage everyone to look up "visible mending" on Instagram and TikTok. Go down the rabbit hole of creative repair techniques and explore specific techniques like darning and Sashiko, and suddenly, clothes with holes will become something you will get excited about—an opportunity to refashion and reimagine, not just throw out. 

The challenge, though, is that these skills are rare, and most people are too time-poor to learn them, let alone do it themselves. I believe technology is the unlock. If we can fuse together the convenience economy with social enterprise partners that have these skills, then it’s a win for everyone. As a founder with experience in tech, I feel like I bring a unique perspective because I’m thinking about how we can use technology to bridge this gap, connecting skilled makers and social enterprises with the people who are just looking for a simple and hassle-free experience. 

4. What do you see as the biggest barriers to widespread adoption of clothing repairs and alterations, and how is Hello Tailr helping to overcome them? 

The biggest barrier is convenience. We live in a world where almost anything—fashion, groceries, even pet food—can be ordered at the click of a button. The convenience economy has reshaped consumer expectations, making traditional clothing repairs and alterations a stark contrast, typically requiring at least two store visits—one to drop off and another to pick up. 

Hello Tailr is addressing this head-on by reimagining how clothing repairs and alterations can be delivered online. We have over multiple shipping options—including a door-to-door service and printer-free options—with the aim of making the service as convenient as possible. If we can provide a simple, easy-to-use service with a wide range of services, we hope to make clothing repair as easy as online shopping—ultimately helping shift consumer behaviour towards more sustainable fashion choices.

5. What have been some of your most significant lessons learned in growing a business focused on clothing repairs and sustainable fashion practices? 

There are so many wonderful people and businesses that genuinely care about sustainability, circularity, and social impact. It’s incredibly humbling and inspiring to see their dedication and long-term commitment—many have been driving change for over a decade. With the rise of new initiatives like Seamless Australia and other circularity-focused policies emerging globally, there seems to be growing momentum. Hopefully, now is just the beginning of the broader population embracing these values, making sustainable fashion choices the norm. 

6. If you could impart one piece of advice to someone looking to create a fashion tech startup with sustainability at its core, what would it be? 

Develop a clear, fundamental hypothesis—what is the core problem you are trying to solve? Try and articulate it in one short, sharp, clear sentence. Then, ask yourself honestly: Is this a real problem, or am I trying to create a problem for a solution I have already thought of? Being real with yourself now will save you a lot of wasted time later. 

Next, figure out the fastest and easiest way to test your hypothesis. Can you validate that other people share your problem quickly? As an example, sending something as simple as a short survey to friends, family, or colleagues can give you answers very quickly—you don’t need to spend thousands building a website or app upfront. 

Once you’ve validated the problem, focus on the “how”—is the solution an app, a website, a service, a physical store, or a product? Pick one approach and laser-focus on delivering and testing it as fast as possible. Even a big idea like opening a restaurant or store can be tested and de-risked by running pop ups or events first. Avoid distractions—keep a long list of ideas for later, but stay committed to the task at hand. Choose something achievable in 1-2 months, launch it, promote it for another 1-2 months, then assess: double down if it’s working, and pivot and test another approach if it’s not. 

The biggest mistake I see in startups is trying to do too many things at once. Stay focused, iterate, and most importantly—good luck! You’re going to need a bit of that too!

Discover more about Hellor Tailr through their social media channels or official website.