Were there other companies that attempted what Stitchfix is doing? Trunkclub and Stitchfix were early movers in this space as far as I am aware and others have copied them.

Didn't get your point regarding whole sellers. As far as I understand this industry, the retailers generally source directly from brands and so does Stitchfix.

"their market position is dependent on their ability to match clothes for people"

That's their core competency though. That's what makes them successful.

Fashion doesn't actually change measured in weeks. There is a fairly predictable flow from the next-season designs approved by the fashion elite (think Devil Meets Prada sort of stuff.) The not-too-risky designs there are quickly incorporated by the just-behind-the-curve brands to still make it into the next season and only a year (or more) later the aspects sufficiently palatable for the masses end up at regular retailers.

That means that if you stay in touch with the newest developments it's actually pretty easy to still be sufficiently ahead of the masses to justify a service like this.

And if that sounds remarkably similar to how tech works: I agree with you.