Brands are constantly working to stay ahead of trends on social media, and that can mean reassessing the very platforms they're using. For some, that means figuring out how to authentically produce TikToks and Instagram Reels. For fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff it means taking her brand to OnlyFans.

The site allows users, or 'Fans,' to pay brands, celebrities, and everyday people for exclusive content. At the beginning of the pandemic in March and April 2020, the platform experienced a 75 percent monthly increase in new user and creator registrations. The site quickly became known for explicit content and democratizing sex work. Now it boasts 100 million active users and more than one million creators. According to OnlyFans, the site gains up to 500,000 new users per day. Beyoncé even rapped about the site in her verse for Megan Thee Stallion's remix of 'Savage,' singing "Hips tik tok when I dance/On that Demon Time, she might start an OnlyFans."

Minkoff said it's the high level of exposure that first drew her to the platform. "When you see people like Cardi B or Michael B. Jordan going on to a new platform I say okay, let's give this a shot." The designer said she sees it as a new avenue to connect with her "most diehard, most dedicated fans" in a meaningful way.

There are concerns over people's willingness to visit the site, considering the content it's known for. Minkoff told Cheddar that she spoke with the CEO of OnlyFans directly and was assured that if her fans don't want to see the more explicit content on the platform, they won't. "There isn't an algorithm that's going to push you content you do not intend to see," Minkoff said. "You have to seek out the creator that you want."

Minkoff believes the real value in the future of the platform will grow from creators like herself along with celebrities and other brands. The designer and businesswoman has a long history of supporting and empowering other female founders. Along with behind-the-scenes looks at her design process, her OnlyFans account will eventually offer one-on-one mentoring sessions and video series. 

"People can pay as little as $3 or $5 for an hour of mentoring with me," Minkoff told Cheddar. "Which is truly invaluable when you're just starting out and you need some advice."

The veteran designer originally launched the platform to highlight her New York Fashion Week show last week. The brand was able to host an in-person audience, which required an immense amount of coordination and planning. Minkoff says models and staff were tested before the show and everyone had to fill out extensive paperwork ahead of time. Guests sat six feet apart and were required to wear masks at all times. The show featured a botanical garden tucked into a New York City greenhouse boasting "the freshest air that New Yorkers haven't smelled in months" 

Minkoff said the impact of an in-person show was overwhelming. "There was a feeling of joy of seeing plants that are alive, of seeing community, of seeing friends, and people were like, 'Thank you for doing this. Thank you for showing that we can get back to work and we can do it safely. And we don't need to have the constant fear and panic set in.' There is a path to do whatever work we do, and be caring and cautious, but still create joy."

Share:
More In Business
Michigan Judge Sentences Walmart Shoplifters to Wash Parking Lot Cars
A Michigan judge is putting sponges in the hands of shoplifters and ordering them to wash cars in a Walmart parking lot when spring weather arrives. Genesee County Judge Jeffrey Clothier hopes the unusual form of community service discourages people from stealing from Walmart. The judge also wants to reward shoppers with free car washes. Clothier says he began ordering “Walmart wash” sentences this week for shoplifting at the store in Grand Blanc Township. He believes 75 to 100 people eventually will be ordered to wash cars this spring. Clothier says he will be washing cars alongside them when the time comes.
State Department Halts Plan to buy $400M of Armored Tesla Vehicles
The State Department had been in talks with Elon Musk’s Tesla company to buy armored electric vehicles, but the plans have been put on hold by the Trump administration after reports emerged about a potential $400 million purchase. A State Department spokesperson said the electric car company owned by Musk was the only one that expressed interest back in May 2024. The deal with Tesla was only in its planning phases but it was forecast to be the largest contract of the year. It shows how some of his wealth has come and was still expected to come from taxpayers.
Goodyear Blimp at 100: ‘Floating Piece of Americana’ Still Thriving
At 100 years old, the Goodyear Blimp is an ageless star in the sky. The 246-foot-long airship will be in the background of the Daytona 500 — flying roughly 1,500 feet above Daytona International Speedway, actually — to celebrate its greatest anniversary tour. Even though remote camera technologies are improving regularly and changing the landscape of aerial footage, the blimp continues to carve out a niche. At Daytona, with the usual 40-car field racing around a 2½-mile superspeedway, views from the blimp aptly provide the scope of the event.
Is U.S. Restaurants’ Breakfast Boom Contributing to High Egg Prices?
It’s a chicken-and-egg problem: Restaurants are struggling with record-high U.S. egg prices, but their omelets, scrambles and huevos rancheros may be part of the problem. Breakfast is booming at U.S. eateries. First Watch, a restaurant chain that serves breakfast, brunch and lunch, nearly quadrupled its locations over the past decade to 570. Fast-food chains like Starbucks and Wendy's added more egg-filled breakfast items. In normal times, egg producers could meet the demand. But a bird flu outbreak that has forced them to slaughter their flocks is making supplies scarcer and pushing up prices. Some restaurants like Waffle House have added a surcharge to offset their costs.
Load More