Sustainability and circularity have been on everyone’s mind recently. Stopping over production and giving chances to what has already been produced it’s easier said than done, as for the past century the society we’ve lived in has been pushing onto us the idea that we constantly need new shiny things, without truly valuing what we are actually buying and what we already own. We buy and discard clothes as the trends come by, but what can we do with our remaining clothing?

RE-COMMERCE PHILOSOPHY 

This isn't a new way of thinking, since 1995 when eBay started working as an online platform for selling second-hand pieces, re-commerce was blooming and getting ready for the big movement that is now. However this new trend has been acquiring lots of attention in the last years, consumers are looking for a conscious and affordable way to top up their wardrobes with quality over quantity. 

Younger generations are being raised knowing that circularity is a great way to avoid overproduction and waste and that buying from brands who ethically source their materials and fairly pay their workers is the way to go. So how can we enrich our closets and sense of style without hurting the planet? Re-commerce is your answer. Buying second-hand is one of the best ways, and the philosophy behind this practice is to never let any garment go to waste. An item that is old-fashioned for one person, can represent an exciting new look for someone else.“Re-commerce as an industry is expected to double in size over the next 5 years” (The Shelf).

Thanks to technology, re-commerce has become an accessible market to more and more people. From the comfort of your place anyone can be part of the process, consumers can conveniently ship their pieces from their home to the sellers and immediately obtain their earnings. Online marketplaces make it easy and possible for consumers to purchase and offer their products. 

SUSTAINABILITY LABOUR

Sustainability is not about buying for the sake of it, but consciously buying for our needs. In a survey that ClosetMaid has conducted on 1000 USA women, they showed how from an average closet of 103 items, 21% is considered unwearable, and 12% has never even been worn! 33% of American women said their clothes were too tights, and 24% too loose (ClosetMaid). 

The fashion industry has a very big impact on the planet and the environment. Fast fashion brands produce “over 92 million tonnes of waste per year” (Eco Friendly Habits) to continuously put out new clothes, without really thinking of the environmental consequences their actions bring. Fast-fashion retailers have noticed a decrease in sales in the past year, as people are slowly realizing that investing in pre-loved pieces can be just as fulfilling as purchasing fast fashion brands.

THE FUTURE OF RE-COMMERCE 

The “boom” of the sustainability trend is creating a domino effect of great consequences on the planet: sustainable influencers! As the role of influencers has become more and more defining for trends in fashion, having young and creative people who put out great information and advice on how to shop sustainably is key to the future fashion development. Accounts on Instagram such as @ssustainably_, @aditimayer and @ajabarber use their platform to educate anyone who is interested in creating a better environment and giving ethical fashion a whole new meaning. 

The ethical fashion industry is projected to keep on growing “to $9.81 billion in 2025 and $15.17 billion in 2030 at a CAGR of 9.1%” (The Business Research Company) and hopefully as time goes on more and more people will realise the moral and environmental value of shopping consciously.

Let's start to put effort, help the environment, and make the right choice!

CIRCULAR CLOSET BY HER-AGE

If you are up to make a change and start in the re-commerce lifestyle, here are a couple of advices from her-age: 

• Declutter your closet, select the pieces that you don’t wear anymore, and truly value and use the ones you keep.

• Upload really nice photos of your luxury pieces to our website.

• Remember to take good care of your pieces. Your submission will be reviewed, authenticated and appraised of the item depending on value and condition.