16 New York City-based startups that are changing the way we shop for clothes

It should come as no surprise that many up-and-coming online clothing startups are based in the fashion capital of New York City.

While influenced by its rich history of fashion, these 16 startups are also challenging the traditional ways we think about and shop for clothing.

You can learn more about each of the NYC-based startups below. Then, read up on the 11 San Francisco-based clothing startups that prove the Big Apple isn't the only place where fashion thrives.

Depending on your level of exposure to the most populous city in the US, New York City conjures a variety of associations: a major hub for finance and media, the stage where theatre and fine dining comes to blossom (or die), or simply that one nightmarish place people cram into on New Year's Eve to see a shiny ball drop.

New York City is all these things, but you also can't forget its place as a fashion capital. The city is every shopper's paradise, with fashionable people and stylish shops on every block. Luxury fashion brands and legacy department stores line Fifth Avenue, while quaint boutiques thrive in SoHo — but it's a new crowd of fashion disruptors that's making some of the most memorable debuts in the NYC clothing world.

These clothing and accessories startups were founded and based in New York, where the city's influence — its cramped quarters, culture of aesthetes who are never caught in a bad outfit, and busy, fast-paced rhythm — has clearly permeated into their business models and products.

These 16 startups, while influenced by NYC, are also challenging its fashion traditions by not overcharging for things and trading in excess for simplicity and sustainability. New York City will always be a place for fashion — the following retail startups just approach it in a different way.

Learn more about the 16 New York City-based clothing startups that are changing the fashion industry: