Definition: RETOLD
Beautiful clothes are made to be worn, to tell their story through being worn and being seen. At RETOLD we don’t let beautiful clothes be locked away in the dark at the back of your wardrobe, we want to shine the light on them and let them retell their story.
At RETOLD we help give clothes a second chance at happiness!
RETOLD's original story was titled 'My Ex Wardrobe'; and it all started once upon a time...
Like with all good stories, My Ex Wardrobe started with 3 sisters, called Bekky, Sian and Teagan; who were bought up in Dubai. One day, middle sister Sian, realised she was a shopaholic, and needed to do something with the piles and piles of unworn clothes cluttering up her wardrobe. So the three of them held a garden party and invited loads of their lovely friends to come and swap and sell their own unworn clothes. This party was such a success that the sisters wanted to spread the word far across the land, helping to give lots of other clothes... a second chance at happiness!
And thus the business was born. For the first few years the My Ex Wardrobe team hosted regular pop-up-shop parties at many bars and restaurants around Dubai, where money-saavy women came to shop pre-loved fashion from their favourite high-street brands and even designer and luxury labels. For several years these pop-up-shops / Ladies Nights were a regular feature in our customer's monthly diaries.
After a self-discovery trip to Everest Base Camp, the opportunity to open a full time physical shop arose, and Sian jumped at the chance. Having left her career in hospitality interior design behind to pursue the concept whole-heartedly, it was time to step up the game, and so the page was turned and the next chapter of the story started. You can perhaps now see where the new name of the brand came from... not only do we retell the story of the clothes we are re-homing, but also the continuation of our journey.
RETOLD is a small team of dedicated and enthusiastic individuals, we hope you have time to come and meet everyone in person at our shop but in the meantime here's where you can put a name to a face!
Aside from our full time team, there are many people and other agencies who have been instrumental in our success.
MEET THE TEAM:
Sian Rowlands
CEO & Chief Storyteller
As a reformed shopaholic and a long-term Dubai resident, her 'past life' Sian was a successful Interior Designer, specialising in high-end hotel, F&B and spa projects. But she left this behind to launched RETOLD in 2017, after a challenging trek to Everest Base Camp where she decided to take her side hobby (My Ex Wardrobe) and develop it into the thriving community you see today. She’s highly passionate about business, sustainability, and learning, and she possesses a deep desire to ‘make the world a better place’.
3 LOVES: The ocean, rollercoasters, Salted Caramel Ice Cream
3 Random Facts: Sian originally moved to Dubai 30 years ago, she can make a three-leafed clover with her tongue, she loves boxing!
3 Hates: Spiders, alarm clocks and plastic straws
Jelena Dancetovic
Retail & Events Manager
As long-standing customer from the old My Ex Wardrobe days, Jelena joined the RETOLD team on day 1 (back when the team was just Sian!). She comes from a background in both retail and hospitality, so you will still spot her out and about at all Dubai's hotspots. She’s the in-house vintage guru, and you’ll be in awe of her endless energy and extensive knowledge.
3 LOVES: Flea Markets, animals, seeing the world.
3 Random Facts: on her last 6-day holiday she visited 3 different countries, she used to sell laxative tea as a job, she's received 6 marriage proposals 😜
Iva Krujlic
Operations Executive
Iva is the Operations Executive here at RETOLD and you will often find her assisting the Sales Team too!
Iva has her fingers on the pulse of the business and thanks to her hyper-organisation skills is always looking at ways to improve our processes.
Before joining RETOLD and moving to Dubai, Iva was a Quality Control Specialist in Rijeka, Croatia, and now she controls the quality of our business!
Iva is very passionate about organisation and keeping things in line; she is the glue that sticks our whole team together. She's on speed dial for everyone on the team because she has her finger on the pulse of all parts of the business, and she loves helping grow and flourish our RETOLD community.
3 Loves: dogs, shoes, and rock music
3 Random Facts: Iva holds a masters degree in Environmental and Food Safety, she can't handle cold weather, and drives like an F1 driver!
Teodora
Sales Associate
Teodora is one of our wonderfully helpful Sales Team, she is on hand in the boutique to help you pick out some amazing preowned outfits.
Teodora moved to Dubai 6 years ago, from her native Serbia, and lives here with her husband and their son. Joining the RETOLD family shortly after our launch, she’s been a significant contributor to our growth over the last 18 months.. In addition to her life as wife and mother, Teodora has a Master’s Degree in Tourism and Hotel Management and passion for shoes and bags (which is handy when working with us!).
She is very friendly and kind, and hugely enjoys working with people - helping them find the perfect pieces in our huge boutique. Teodora believes that life is made up of all the small things, so enjoy them with cup of good coffee.
3 Loves: yoga, boat trips, and sweet & sour chicken
Ana
Sales Assoicate
Ana is one of our fabulous & fashionable Sales Team, ready to assist you in finding the perfect preowned pairings.
Ana originates from Serbia, and has been living with her husband in Dubai for the last 13 years. She joined the RETOLD team with a background in retail, customer service and administration. More importantly she is loyal with an easy going personality, teamed with her strong inner drive. If you spot her outside of her RETOLD t-shirt - you'll love her sharp and individual style, a clear reflection of personality!
7 Loves (cos 3 is just not enough!): music, fashion, styling, swimming, mountains, long walks and snowboarding 🏂
3 Random Facts: She used to work in a Wakeboard & Snowboard Equipment Shop before she came in Dubai. She cannot live without music 🎶and regularly picks our boutique playlists. She loves endless, deep conversations with dear people 😊
Amal Akbar
Marketing Manager
Amal is the Marketing Manager at RETOLD
Amal is a long-time Dubai resident, full time mum, and part-time marketing guru at RETOLD.
She comes with 18 years experience working with some of the biggest brands in the world such as Emirates, Unilever, Pfizer, Hilton, BMW, Coca-Cola, after two years of maternity leave she decided not to return to the corporate world but instead is putting her efforts toward leading and living a more sustainable life by being part of the RETOLD story and community.
3 Loves: she loves good grape drinks and great food with friends, she loves animals and she loves the beach and sunshine!
1 random fact: she is incredible at impressions and accents
Ivana Carr
Sales Associate
Ivana is one of our seriously stylish Sales Team, with a full knowledge of currently stocked items.
Ivana is originally from Croatia, and moved to Dubai 3 years ago; and is now living her best life (not just on the 'Gram either!). Ivana has loved the opportunities Dubai has given her; to learn about different cultures, to open her mind to different ways of life, and to meet best coworkers who she now considers friends.
Ivana joined RETOLD in the early days and has had the pleasure to witness and help us grow and shine.
When she's not helping the RETOLD community find new homes for all the gorgeous pieces, she is studying fashion design.
3 Loves: fashion design, good food, and lovely people
Bea Cruz
Operations Executive
Bea joined RETOLD to lead the admin and logistics team.
Bea started work in the corporate world when she was 20 and certified 'Computer Savvy', and she moved to Dubai 2 years ago with her sisters. Art runs in her blood and she has an incredible talent for fashion illustration which is her favourite form of art (check out the Membership page on our website for a sneak peek - don't worry, there will be more to follow). She loves working with our awesome and sometimes crazy little Team, and she says she 'wouldn't trade it for anything else ❤️'
3 Loves: Cats, Sketching, Music - postmalone & GOT7 to be exact!
3 Fun Facts: She got her Bachelors Degree when she was only 19, she's been an active blood donor for 8 years, she will drink coffee anytime of the day
Melanie Centeno
Admin & Logistics
Melanie is a key part of the admin and logistics team.
Melanie is both fun and funny, and has a wicked little giggle you will often hear throughout the RETOLD boutique. After moving to Dubai and joining the RETOLD team she is enjoying life to the fullest. She had always dreamed of being involved in fashion, but never thought that her 7-year work background in accounting and finance in the Philippines would lead her to us, but boy are we glad we found her!
Here's what Melanie has to say about being on the RETOLD team "It’s a great opportunity to work with RETOLD and I really love working with such amazing team. I didn't just get a job but I found a family away from home."
3 Loves: Island hopping, travelling & discover new places and online gaming
Glorilyn Bactol
CEO & Chief Storyteller
Glorilyn is the newest member of our admin & logistics team.
Glorilyn (also called as Glo by the team), is a fresh graduate from the Philippines with a Bachelors Degree of Information Technology. After graduating, Glorilyn ventured to Dubai to start her career.
Glorilyn says about working with RETOLD: "I’m glad RETOLD gave me the opportunity to be part of their family, even If I’m on a different industry now I’m happy and thankful to be part of RETOLD Team ❤ because I believe that this company as well as the team will help me a lot to enhance my professional growth and gain more knowledge and skills."
3 Loves: Sweets (Specially Chocolates), Travelling, Bags
3 Random Facts: Her day is not complete without soda, she has a double jointed elbow, she likes playing badminton for fun
Visit our Blog
Want to get to know the team a bit more... visit our blog where we talk about all the things that we feel passionately about, and hopefully you will too.
Read more nowMy 'WHY'...
Why I started the business
By Sian Rowlands, CEO and Chief Storyteller
Why buy pre-loved
here’s just SOME of the reasons why we should all be buying second hand clothes...
Tips to Declutter your Closet
Decluttering is scientifically proven to reduce stress levels...
