Man Repeller

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Man Repeller is an independent fashion and lifestyle website founded as a hobby by Leandra Medine Cohen in 2010.[1] A few days after it launched, the blog was featured on the fashion website Refinery29. It became popular enough that Medine began collaborating with major magazines like Lucky and Harper's Bazaar. The blog became so commercially successful through a combination of traditional advertising, sponsored blog posts, appearance fees, and designer collaborations that Medine decided to work on the blog full-time.[2]

In 2016 Medine launched MR by Man Repeller, a line of loafers, flats, metallic booties, and heels exclusive to Net-a-Porter which embodied her not too serious and irreverent style. MR by Man Repeller was followed by Medine's eponymous shoe brand Leandra Medine, which is sold at Barneys NY, Harvey Nichols, and The Webster.[3]

In September 2020, the site was rebranded to Repeller, but unfortunately on Oct. 22, Cohen confirmed that Repeller will be shutting down due to financial constraints.[4]

Controversy

In June 2020, Leandra Medine, founder of Man Repeller published an open letter on its site expressing allyship with the protesters. Immediately, the comments were filled with readers and former employees lambasting its tone deafness.[5] Many of the site’s commenters were troubled that Crystal Anderson, who had worked at the site as a creative producer (and one of its few Black employees) since March 2018, was let go during the pandemic. Another former staffer of color at Man Repeller, who asked to remain anonymous because she signed a nondisclosure agreement, confirmed that there was a culture of favoritism and cliquishness at the company. Over the last few months of her tenure, she says that Medine completely ignored her.

In response to the feud, in less than two weeks Medine posted an apology on her personal Instagram account and at the same time announced that she would step back from her leadership role.[6]

Reference