Meet Vanessa Sanchez | Co-Founder & CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vanessa Sanchez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vanessa, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I have always been a fashion lover but these past few years I have become increasingly aware of the impact fashion has on the environment. Not only that, but keeping up with ever changing fashion trends is expensive. Miami is such a fashion-forward city that I still wanted to look cute but not at the expense of the planet or my wallet! For these very reasons, my co-founders and I had been swapping clothes with one another, as well as being avid thrifters and active on the clothing resale apps. It wasn’t until one of my partners traveled to Germany a few years ago and saw the growing trend of sustainable fashion choices that we realized we could digitize the in-person swap events and introduce this to the American market.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
bonnee is an inclusive social app that allows users to swap clothing, vintage finds and accessories. Unlike a traditional one-to- one swap platform, that is limited to a closed two person transaction (closet to closet), bonnee is a one-to-many swap platform that launched late January 2024 here in South Florida. Users join the growing swap community by downloading the free app on iOS or Google Play. They post an item from their closet, designate it “available for swap”, and then receive one credit to choose from any item posted from any other user on the app. The swap is a permanent transaction.

bonnee is simple to use with no complicated points or valuation system. Users are empowered to decide what good, like new or new-with-tags piece they would like to part with and load it on the app. bonnee is wallet friendly, as users only pay a modest service fee and shipping, and encourages users to swap before they shop, offering a simple way to have a big impact through circular fashion.

bonnee started out as an idea in September 2022 and I could not be prouder to see how far my partners and I have come since then. We went from an idea to launching our first version of our app in less than a year and a half. It hasn’t been easy, but our determination, grit, and passion for what we are creating have been the fuel to keep pushing along. We have learned firsthand the invaluable lesson of embracing adaptability, as well as the power of mentorship and networking. By leaning into a network of mentors and individuals who possess greater experience and a genuine desire to see us succeed, we have gained insights and support crucial to overcoming challenges.

The idea to launch bonnee in fashion-obsessed South Florida was a no-brainer, but we are also excited to be expanding to select cities across the country later this year.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love to start my days moving my body and enjoying the beautiful South Florida weather, so taking part in a Hot Girl Walk with my bestie makes total sense! I recently participated in one of these walks and I loved how I was able to meet other like-minded women while getting in my daily steps. After that, I would take my bestie to view some art at the Pérez Art Museum Miami (my favorite museum in the city) and grab lunch at their waterfront restaurant. Being an avid thrifter and shopper, we would end the afternoon by checking out an artisan market such as Angels Only that always takes place in a cool venue and has some of the best vintage and unique finds in the city. With dinner time approaching, we’d head over to Mangrove for some delicious Caribbean food followed by drinks and Afro beats in their lounge. And, if we still have it in us, then we’d have to end the night at ZeyZey for some live music and dancing.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I could not be doing this without my amazing business partners and co-founders, Meredith Vey and Maritza Sanchez Schubert. Launching a tech startup is not for the faint of heart and we complement each other perfectly. Thank you for making this journey a fun one!

Website: www.bonnee.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swapbonnee/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swapbonnee

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swapbonnee

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@swapbonnee

Image Credits
Stephanie Zapata