INTERVIEW WITH: MARLEY ALLES FOUNDER OF RAX <3
Wise Words From RCI Grads <3
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Wise Words From RCI Grads <3 〰️
FOREWORDS BY FRANCES KIM: Queen Marley Alles. Always been that b*tch from the beginning. For the audience, let's explain. We go way back. We became friends in Grade 9(?) - high school, regardless - through business class I believe initially and I think organically bonded by way of humour and laughs. We were in a quite large, but very close knit friend group throughout all four years - with an extended group of interesting boys. Anyways. It also helped we were in a class full of clowns. Shout out Daniel Riondato. My Columbian brother. I think I could genuinely write a 20 page essay of how our friend group and Richview Collegiate shaped me as a human. In both good ways and bad. I digress. HA.
You're a Gemini. I've always been impressed by your ability to navigate different spaces effortlessly. You have a huge heart. You've always been the hostess with the most-est but I always recognized your earnesty in giving back by way of sharing your (beautiful) house with us for massive (and the most fun) house parties, swim sessions and a lot more. That shows me you stay grounded. It's awesome to see. Especially from a blonde white woman #noshade. x
I want to thank Lina, Brad and Cassidy for dealing with our high school wrecklessness.
I want to especially give a big shoutout to Lina for being the OG boss woman in corporate advertising I looked up to.
Now, you are THAT boss woman. An entrepreneur who has founded and established rax, Canada's first peer-to-peer clothing rental app. Driving efforts in being a fashionista on a budget while staying SUSTAINABLE too. I've been following your journey from the beginning. A bit like a weird internet stalker. I've observed your business moves and have been genuinely impressed by your ability to manage it all. You were balancing working AT A STARTUP while BUILDING THIS STARTUP. You're insane. But realize. Real eyes. Real eyezzzzz baby.
Let's discuss.
Make it stand out
Marley and I’s FB exchanges over some odd years <3 hahahahhaa
FK: Let’s talk about your upbringing.
I think it really shapes an entrepreneur’s journey. Your parents were successful, hardworking, and generous — and I see that same outlook in you. What do you think?
MA: First of all, congrats on starting this — I’m so proud of you and excited to follow your journey. And thank you for the kind words. I’m incredibly lucky to have supportive parents who made me believe I could do anything. Their work ethic absolutely rubbed off on me and played a huge role in pushing me toward business.
I actually started out very corporate: MBA, Big 4 job — the whole thing. Then I got there and thought, “Wait… this is it?” At the same time, I became obsessed with startups and how companies are built and scaled.
I left big corporate to work at a tiny agency where we acted as Fractional CMOs for startups. I saw everything firsthand — fundraising, product iteration, customer service. I was helping grow other people’s companies and started wondering if I could do it myself.
Anytime I hit a pain point, I’d write it down and look for a solution. It wasn’t until I started attending tons of weddings every summer — and spending thousands on dresses — that the idea clicked… more on that later 👀
FK: You worked corporate jobs for a while. Was there a burnout moment where you knew it was time to start your own thing?
MA: Not really a burnout moment. I genuinely thought I’d climb the corporate ladder because that’s all we really knew. When we were at Queen’s, everyone was going into consulting, finance, accounting, or marketing at large companies. Working at a startup — let alone starting one — wasn’t common.
FK: I miss Ms. Chreppas. Do you remember Mr. Sloan? I emailed him recently. We should go back to RCI — would you come with me?
MA: Omggg, Chreppas actually came to a rax pop-up 🫶 It was so nice seeing her. YES, I’d love to go back — as long as we don’t cause a lockdown or something lol.
FK: Favourite subjects growing up?
MA: Definitely gym in junior high — I loved sports. In high school, I gravitated toward marketing and business classes.
FK: What are you listening to lately?
MA: Podcasts. Always. How I Built This, Almost 30, Female Founder World, Hot Smart Rich, Dream Bigger, The Lazy CEO, The Psychology of Your 20s, Mel Robbins, Him & Her, Well., Transform, Wellness Her Way, Working Hard Hardly Working, WorkParty — just to name a few.
FK: What stylistic trends are you into lately?
(Editor note: sustainability starts with honing your personal style. Don’t buy if you’re unsure. Experiment — but don’t buy recklessly. We’ve all learned from our Forever 21 era… though I’m sure I still have pieces buried in my garage.)
MA: I’m investing in a capsule wardrobe — high-quality, timeless pieces — and renting for events or trends I want to experiment with. (Very into sequins right now.)
FK: Best advice you’ve received so far?
MA: If people don’t think your idea is a little crazy, you’re not thinking big enough. Every massive shift feels weird at first. People said no one would get into a stranger’s car with Uber. Or stay in someone’s home with Airbnb. Or rent someone else’s clothes with rax 😉
FK: Let’s talk rax. Give us the plug.
MA: rax is Canada’s largest shared wardrobe. It’s a peer-to-peer marketplace where you can monetize your closet as an income-generating asset — literally making thousands a month — or save up to 90% by borrowing high-end looks instead of buying them.
We’re turning “shopping” into an investment.
FK: How is rax different from resale platforms like Depop or Poshmark?
MA: We’re seeing a huge cultural shift from ownership to access. Social media — outfit-of-the-day culture, hauls, wearing something once — has made people realize they don’t need to own everything forever.
Resale platforms are built on disposal: sell once, it’s gone. rax is built on utility. Why sell a $500 dress for $100 when you can rent it five times, keep the asset, and make your money back — and then some?
It turns your closet from “spent money” into an active investment. Whether it’s a bridal look, a designer bag, or a gala gown, renting gives you the new-clothes high for 90% less — without clutter or guilt. We’re the infrastructure for the modern shared wardrobe.
FK: Speedrun your 30-60-90 days.
MA:
30 days: Obsessing over the why — market research, competitive landscape, unit economics.
60 days: Building a no-code prototype to get to market fast.
90 days: Creating a go-to-market plan and acquiring users.
FK: Top 3 growth tips for young entrepreneurs?
MA:
Do things that don’t scale. I hosted pop-ups at places like Sweat & Tonic to hear real feedback fast.
Build community IRL. Physical events remove the trust barrier instantly.
Be the face of the brand. People connect with people. We’re in the H2H era — human to human.
FK: What are your success metrics beyond money?
MA: Am I learning? Am I enjoying the work? Will my future self thank me?
@marleyalles on IG | @rent_rax
FK: Why fashion?
MA: Clothing affects every single one of us every day. Fast fashion is the second most polluting industry after oil and gas — yet it hasn’t evolved alongside consumer behavior. That disconnect is the opportunity.
FK: Biggest failure so far?
MA: If you’re not failing, you’re not working on hard problems. One of my biggest mistakes was launching a no-code prototype that barely worked — but it let me validate the idea quickly and prove people wanted rax.
FK: Current hyper-fixation meal?
MA: Nutella toast. Mandatory afternoon snack with tea.
FK: How do you balance business and life?
MA: I’m still learning. I focus on two buckets: what fills my personal cup, and what actually moves the needle for the business.
We love yellow ova here!
FK: Why yellow?
MA: It’s always been my favourite colour — and from a product standpoint, almost no apps use yellow. It pops on a home screen.
FK: Advice for young women?
MA: Don’t compare your Chapter 1 to someone else’s Chapter 20. Focus on being 1% better every day.
FK: Advice for young men?
MA: Define success on your own terms. Don’t feel trapped by hustle culture or rigid expectations. Build a life that feels good — not just one that looks good.
FK: Style me.
MA: Honestly, how do you style the fashion queen? There’s a silver Rabanne set on the app right now that you’d love.
FK: MY FAV PIECES FROM COLLECTION & ON APP BELOW.
FK: Me again! App is super easy to download - create a profile & set up in a few quick clicks! Super cute ecosyystem of fashion-loving gals & pals! xx
Stay tuned I’ll be renting out pieces soon ;) Lord knows I got so many clothes hehe. PIECES actually. I got PIECES ho.
Boss woman type vibe ya feel!