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A sixth-grade social science textbook that I read described India as a piece of fabric, with countless threads coloured in a myriad of majestic shades, woven together. This metaphor holds exceptionally well when put into the context of our <keyword id="22706215" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="handloom-industry" source="keywords">handloom industry</keyword>. India has a rich history of handlooms and weaving cultures. The culture of handlooms is so intricately woven into Indian culture, that there are whole towns dedicated to the same: <keyword id="248532" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chanderi" source="Orion">Chanderi</keyword> in Madhya Pradesh to Pochampally in Telangana and a dozen more! Unfortunately, the handloom industry in India is dying. The struggle is multi-faceted, ranging from a declining workforce to fierce competition from <keyword id="20496028" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="power-looms" source="keywords">power looms</keyword>. Hence, five years ago, August 7 was proclaimed <keyword id="22677698" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Handloom-Day" source="keywords">National Handloom Day</keyword> in response to this crisis and to heighten public awareness. This date holds special historical significance, commemorating the initiation of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905—a pivotal act of defiance against British colonial rule. <h2>When did this industry come into existence?</h2>According to archaeological findings, the origins of handloom in the Indian subcontinent may be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The Mughal Empire was known to support and patronise <keyword id="20258864" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="weavers" source="keywords">weavers</keyword>. The support from the royal patrons resulted in the invention of new textiles such as ‘Mulmul’ and ‘Banarasi Brocade’ among others. This era witnessed a heightened worldwide demand for Indian textiles. In the 17th century, India produced 25% of the world’s textiles, with Bengal accounting for more than 50% of textiles and 80% of silks imported by the Dutch from Asia. <h2>What led to the decline of the <keyword id="19934660" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-handloom" source="keywords">Indian handloom</keyword>?</h2>The East India Company's entry fuelled the industry's initial decline, which started in the 1830s. The weavers were obliged to sell only to the British, and that too at exceedingly cheap prices, virtually putting them out of business. On the other hand, Indian cloth was taxed excessively to promote machine-made British clothing. The Industrial Revolution in Britain strengthened their indigenous textile industry, giving rise to new markets for cheaper textiles. In India, the collapse of the Mughal aristocracies meant no access to royal patronage. As a result, textiles like Khadi and muslin had little demand in the market. Circling back to the present, the industry is facing both similar and new challenges. Fabrics made on power looms are cheaper and faster to produce, in comparison to handloom fabrics. The industry is largely unorganised, and the wages are shockingly low. 67% of <keyword id="22706216" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="handloom-workers" source="keywords">handloom workers</keyword> are earning less than the minimum wage every month. Faced with economic challenges, the older artisans are thus forced to encourage the newer generation to choose an alternative career path. This migration of the workforce from a traditional sector is evident from the fall in the number of weavers less than 35 years of age- from 26.13 lakh in 2009-10 to 16.07 lakh in 2019-20. The majority of weavers do not have access to banking facilities, let alone institutional credit. Furthermore, if one manages to accumulate credit, there is a mismatch between the supply and demand forces due to the lack of awareness about handwoven textiles in the current generation. <h2>Initiatives for revival</h2>The cultural significance of the Indian handloom isn’t just limited to its beauty and extravagance, but it extends to our independence struggle as well. The Swadeshi movement immortalised the charkha and advocated for the use of indigenous goods. Following independence, the Indian government took many measures to revive the handloom industry. In 1953, India’s Parliament approved the Khadi and Other Handloom Industries Development Act. In 1955, the All India Handloom Fabrics Marketing Cooperative Society was formed to promote the sale of fabrics produced by handloom cooperatives across India. The National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) aimed to provide financial assistance for marketing and production. The Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme offers health and life insurance to weavers, to ensure social security. The organisation commenced a fortnight-long exhibition, “VIRAASAT” dedicated to celebrating the 10th National Handloom Day began at Handloom Haat in Janpath, New Delhi on Saturday, 3rd August 2024, and will conclude on 16th August 2024. The Handloom Mark scheme was introduced to authenticate handloom products, thus enabling weavers to gain better market access and ensuring that consumers get genuine products. Moreover, the India Trade Portal also mentions that the GOI plans to provide financial assistance of Rs. 30 crore to at least 10,000 handlooms. Various state governments also regularly conduct handloom expos and fairs, providing platforms for weavers to showcase and sell their products directly to consumers. <h2>Contemporary Brands and their love for Indian handloom</h2>Modern, popular designers such as <keyword id="8264" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sabyasachi" source="Orion">Sabyasachi</keyword> and <keyword id="21493890" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ritu-kumar" source="keywords">Ritu Kumar</keyword> are known to work closely with weavers and have been doing their part by bringing worldwide attention to the handloom industries. Recently, <keyword id="1472101" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ajrakh" source="Orion">Ajrakh</keyword> was brought into the limelight when Alia Bhatt wore a custom Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla Ajrakh saree to Joy Awards in Riyadh. However, it’s not just the fashion moguls who are working towards the revival of this industry. Contemporary indie brands are partnering with local weavers, and creating awareness about their work. The emergence of such indie brands and their association with local artisans is beneficial for both entities. For instance, Joskai Studio derives its name from ‘Joskai’, a woven piece of cloth worn as a part of the traditional costume of the Tiwa community of Assam. They work with artisans in northeast India, specifically from the weaving village of Saualkuchi in Assam. Rouka by Sreejith Jeevan is a Kerala-based brand that works strictly with weavers from Kerala, specifically Chendamangalam and Kuthampally. <h2>Employment and Exports</h2>According to the Indian Trade Portal, the Indian handloom sector is the country’s second-largest employer after agriculture in rural areas. The Handloom Census 2019-20 mentions that the industry employs about 35,22,512 workers across the country, with women forming 77.29% of the workforce. India is the second largest exporter of handloom products in the world, with exports valued at $ 353.9 million in 2017- 18, as per EXIM bank's working papers. The major handloom export centres are Karur, Panipat, Varanasi and Kannur where handloom products like bed linen, table linen, toilet linen, floor coverings, and embroidered textile materials and curtains etc. are produced for export markets. During April 2021-February 2022, India exported handloom products worth 1693 crore, as per Indian Trade Portal. Indian silk scarves also form a sizable chunk of total handloom exports, in addition to home textiles like carpets, rugs and mats, which constitute over 13.6% of India’s total handloom exports. <h2>The Path Forward</h2>The mere existence of organisations and allocation of funds isn’t enough to sustain the legacy of India’s rich handloom industry. Big corporations working with local weavers ensure employment but don't protect them from exploitation and meagre wages, leaving them vulnerable. The people in power ought to come up with strategies that ensure the trickle-down effect of the schemes and funds. The new generation of buyers has a greater purchasing power than the one before them. Marketing focused on bringing Indian handloom practices into the limelight can do wonders in this case.

Fabric of a nation: Sustaining India's handloom legacy in modern times

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I buy almost all my kids' clothing secondhand. </li><li>Buying and selling takes time and energy, but saving a significant amount of money is worth it.</li></ul>Kids grow like weeds, and there's a short window of time for them to wear each clothing size.I'm picky about what my girls wear, but I would not be able to afford the brands and styles that I wanted to dress them in if I <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/parents-are-returning-worn-out-childrens-clothing-to-target-2023-5">bought their clothes brand new</a>. I also don't feel great about buying brand-new when I know they'll wear each item for such a short amount of time.Instead, I scour the internet and local consignment sales to find clothes secondhand and then resell them after they're done wearing them. It saves me money and is a more sustainable option as well.Here are four tips for kids' consignment success.<h2 id="47f312ab-7d10-4952-9ead-28a8fec89365">I buy online and at consignment sales</h2>Kidizen is the kids' equivalent of the popular consignment site Poshmark. I use it for buying as it's easy to filter by brand, size, and item quality, and shipping is fairly inexpensive.There are also great local consignment sales where I live in Raleigh, North Carolina, many of which happen twice a year (in early fall and early spring). They're great for buying many items at once and for building out my kids' closet for the upcoming season. These sales are typically only a few days long, and on the last day, items are usually reduced even further for mega deals.Chances are there are similar sales or consignment <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/parenting/best-kids-clothes">stores specifically for kids</a> in your area. If you're not familiar with any, ask your local parenting group or do a quick Google search to find them.Facebook is also a great place to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/clothing-resale-popular-with-retailers-gen-z-sustainable-shoppers-2022-2">buy kids' clothes</a>. To make it easier to find what you want, look for specific Buy/Sell/Trade (BST) groups for brands you love, like the popular Mini Boden &amp; Hanna Andersson BST group (which has over 60,000 members!). You can also search the Facebook Marketplace by category or brand.<div type="image" title="Elliott Harrell's kids' closet with clothes hanging up in it." height="3882" width="5175" msid="110842636" hostid="261"></div><h2 id="0b45065f-f81d-462d-b4d6-24875676e249">Here's how I sell secondhand clothing to make the most money</h2>As a seller, you'll make different profit margins based on where you sell your clothes.Kidizen <a target="_blank" href="https://about.kidizen.com/fee/#:~:text=Listing%20an%20item%20on%20Kidizen,fee%20from%20the%20List%20Price.">takes 12%</a> (plus an additional flat $.50 fee) of each sale, so I typically start by listing things on Facebook Marketplace or specialty BST groups because there are no fees when you make a sale. You'll also have to ship your item if you use Kidizen, but you can choose whether you pay the shipping fee or pass the fee along to the buyer. If you're using Facebook, you have the option of local buyers only or whether you want to ship.If an item isn't selling on Facebook after a couple of weeks, I'll list it on Kidizen to reach a wider audience. Then, my last resort is selling through the local seasonal consignment sales because they can take up to 50% of the profit for each sale. They're a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/classic-thrift-stores-worse-secondhand-clothing-market-popular-2024-3">great way to sell</a> a lot of things quickly, though, so I'll take whatever hasn't sold through other methods to these and then donate whatever is leftover at the end of the sale.<h2 id="ee1b3139-3748-45e1-9713-2943840fef31">Certain brands have a higher resale value</h2>The kid <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-turn-resale-side-hustle-into-full-time-business-2020-4">resale market</a> is similar to the adult resale market. Higher-end brands have a better chance at reselling, and you're going to get more of your purchase price back when you resell them. Keep this in mind when you're buying (new or secondhand), as the ability to resell effectively brings your purchase price down since you're making back some of what you spent.Mass-market brands like Old Navy and Carters are tougher to resell, and you'll likely only be able to recoup a small percentage of what you originally paid. Higher-end brands like Hanna Andersson, Mini Boden, and The Beaufort Bonnet Company have high resale values and often pass through several rounds of ownership.When I buy an item from one of these brands secondhand, I can usually resell it for 70-80% of what I paid. Knowing this, it makes more sense to pay a bit extra for the higher-end brands.<div type="image" title="Elliott Harrell's kids' closet with colorful clothes hanging up and shoes on a shelf." height="4284" width="5712" msid="110842642" hostid="261"></div><h2 id="6dc9fef6-3798-48bd-afc3-ed70543065b4">It takes work and patience to buy and sell secondhand kids' clothing</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/full-time-ebay-store-seller-six-figures-2024-4">Buying and selling</a> kids' clothes is a marathon, not a sprint. Over time, I've made and saved hundreds of dollars selling my girls' clothes. It feels good to contribute to the circular economy by giving gently used clothes a new life, but it does take a lot of work.Creating a listing to sell an item takes work. You'll need to take multiple pictures and write a description, and you might need to list the item in multiple places to make a sale. Keeping yourself organized is also important. You need space in your house to keep mailers and packing supplies to ship things and space to store the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-ebay-seller-explains-how-to-start-an-online-store-2024-6">clothes you want to sell</a>.If you aren't making many sales, you may need to reconsider what brands you're listing, how you're pricing, or the quality of your photos. Have patience, but know that your time also has a cost, and over time, if you aren't selling, it may not be worth it.On the buying side, you may not find things you love every time you try to shop. There is no way to tell what inventory might be available in the size and condition that you are looking for. Browse Kidizen and your favorite BST Facebook groups for a few minutes whenever you have time. If you find something you love, act quickly, as once the item is gone, there is no backup.Kids' clothing is expensive, and they don't wear anything for long. It takes time and effort, but buying secondhand and reselling is a way to drastically reduce your spending.

I buy most of my kids' clothes secondhand and then resell them. Here are 4 tips for kids' consignment success.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Eileen Fisher and her team set a goal of making their company 100% sustainable.</li><li>Fisher said that while that's not attainable, it's essential to try.</li><li>The company still has a long way to go, according to a nonprofit that grades sustainability efforts.</li></ul>Eileen Fisher knew she had to set a goal she could never achieve.A decade ago, Fisher and her team were gathered at a meeting away from the company's headquarters north of New York City. The focus was on how her eponymous fashion label could boost its sustainability cred."There was this moment where I realized that I had to actually say, 'We really want to be a 100% sustainable company,'" she told Business Insider. But because she knew that wasn't possible, she hesitated, even as her staff grew more excited. "They were all saying, 'Let's do it. Let's make it the goal.'" Fisher, 73, said she pushed aside her initial doubts and agreed they had to try.To date, the company says more than 80% of its raw materials meet third-party sustainability criteria, and some 70% of materials are processed using what is calls "safer chemistry."Fisher knows that producing clothing to be sold across 57 company stores in North America and at high-end department stores will have some environmental cost. But she credits the audacious goal with remaking the label she started in 1984 with a handful of garments and $350 left in her bank account — injecting sustainability into areas like production and design.The sustainability pledge "really changed the company," she said. "Not just my voice, but that idea that we made a commitment."<h2>Simple yet sustainable</h2>Eileen Fisher's clothes have long been known for their simplicity — simple cuts, toned-down colors. Some of her earliest designs drew from the timeless shape of the kimono, a silhouette she got to know while spending time in Japan early in her career.Fisher said while the company's apparel can't get much simpler, many aspects of its business can.That includes how the company handles its inventory and communicates with customers about how to mix and match its clothes — what the company calls its "system of dressing."Five years ago, the label was using 1,000 types of fabric; now that's down to about 200, Fisher said, adding that they're the ones the designers love and that meet sustainability criteria.The brand gives shoppers $5 gift cards for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.eileenfisherrenew.com/">returning unwanted Eileen Fisher clothes</a>. Some of those clothes can then be made into new products. Since 2009, more than 1 million items have been resold, donated, or remade, according to the company. The take-back effort helped Fisher and her designers better understand how to make clothes that can more easily have a second life. The simpler the clothes are, "the easier they are to work with or to remake into other things," she said.Fisher and her company's CEO, Lisa Williams, whom Fisher brought on from Patagonia in 2022, also want their customers to buy fewer clothes. Fisher acknowledged the position is a tough one for a leader of a clothing brand to maintain."I look at the sales every week," she said. "I want to know how are these products being received — what are they liking."Getting customers to be more selective might mean helping them understand the dozen foundational pieces of the season or the year and how to mix and match them, almost like Lego pieces, she said.<h2>Educating consumers</h2>Fisher sees making her brand simpler and more sustainable as an almost endless journey. Years ago she realized that using natural fibers wasn't good enough. Cotton production requires massive amounts of water. Then there are the dyes, which carry their own environmental cost. She said the company had worked "fabric by fabric" to make its materials more sustainable. It's working to move its organic cotton and wool toward <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/regenerative-agriculture-101">"regenerative" agriculture</a>, designed to boost soil health.Moving to regenerative production, which can have environmental benefits, also means the clothes can cost more, a point Fisher acknowledged. "They're pricier. It's true."Eileen Fisher has also signed onto efforts aimed at cleaning up the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thefashionact.org/">fashion industry's dirty supply chains</a> and more than two decades ago hired a head of social consciousness, whose job includes focusing on the company's sustainability efforts.The closely held company, which has gone on to become a B Corp and to sell a minority stake to its employees, had $267 million in sales last year. Fisher said that she's seen <a target="_blank" href="https://stylecaster.com/fashion/shopping-guides/1386890/brands-like-eileen-fisher/">interest from Gen Zers</a> who are widely recognized as having more of a focus on sustainability issues. These younger fans are a couple generations behind the women who make up the company's primary customers."Sometimes you don't know why. But I do think that there is a desire for simplicity," she said, referring to the interest from younger women. "I do think they know about — they hear about — the sustainability work we do."Even with all the efforts the company has made, it still has more work to do, according to Fisher herself and to a <a target="_blank" href="https://stand.earth/fashion/brand-scores/eileen-fisher/">review of Eileen Fisher's environmental efforts</a> from the nonprofit Stand.earth.Yet even if the label somehow ironed out every environmental cost that comes from producing clothing, that impact alone wouldn't be enough, Fisher said."We're one drop in the bucket. We're one medium-sized company. The world will still be on fire," she said. "So we really need to work with others."<h3>Read more from Transforming Business</h3><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/industry-leaders-transforming-business-2023-11">10 industry leaders transforming business in 2023</a><a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/companies-still-doing-esg-work-despite-politics-criticism-2023-11">ESG backlash dominated headlines in 2023, but it's still 'quietly' reshaping industries behind the scenes</a><a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/advertising-transforming-new-digital-world-2023-11">The digital world remade itself and now every company has become an ad seller</a>

Why designer Eileen Fisher set an unachievable sustainability goal

<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/financing-a-sustainable-future-2022"></a><div type="image" title="a woman working in the MAS Holdings building" height="4000" width="5333" msid="91109056" hostid="261"></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>MAS Holdings is an <keyword id="11899424" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="apparel" source="Orion">apparel</keyword> manufacturer for brands like <keyword id="12062051" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="lululemon" source="Orion">Lululemon</keyword> and New Balance in <keyword id="11916313" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sri-lanka" source="Orion">Sri Lanka</keyword>.</li><li>The company committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25.2% and is already making strides.</li><li>Initiatives so far include generating renewable energy, eliminating waste, and reducing water usage.</li></ul>While the fashion industry emits some <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/industries/retail/our%20insights/fashion%20on%20climate/fashion-on-climate-full-report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">2 billion metric tons</a> of greenhouse gasses a year, Sri Lanka-based <a href="https://www.masholdings.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">MAS Holdings</a> is taking action.A manufacturer for big brands like Lululemon, New Balance, and Thinx, the athleisure and intimate apparel purveyor has made major public commitments, like reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25.2% by 2025. <div type="image" title="headshot of Sid Amalean" height="1462" width="1950" msid="91109057" hostid="261"></div>"We're trying to buck the trend and really be the difference and the change in the industry," Sid Amalean, the head of sustainable business at MAS Holdings, told Insider. In January, the organization launched <a href="https://www.masholdings.com/plan-for-change/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">MAS Plan for Change,</a> which outlines goals for improving operations by 2025 in three focus areas: products, lives, and the planet. MAS also signed onto the <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Science Based Targets initiative</a> (SBTi), a multi-organization partnership that helps private-sector companies set emissions targets, track progress, and see how they compare to others in their industry.Founded in 1987 and currently employing more than 100,000 people, the manufacturer has facilities in 15 countries, including Kenya and Mexico, and brought in $2 billion in 2018.<div type="image" title="people working in a factory" height="675" width="900" msid="91109058" hostid="261"></div>Amalean said the company is financing the climate-action work through debt, general revenue, and an independent nonprofit, <a href="https://www.masholdings.in/the-foundation/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">MAS Foundation for Change</a>, that the company set up in 2022 to fund long-term, large-scale projects with no return on investment, like building a water reservoir at its headquarters. Under its master plan, MAS has also committed to having 85% of its suppliers and all of its joint-venture investments adopt science-based targets. The investment is worthwhile and will build brand equity, resonate with consumers, and help the planet, Amalean added. "Just setting aside the obvious social and environmental reasons to be doing this, even if you're just a 100% business-minded and profit-minded, it still makes sense."Other manufacturers like South Korea-based <a href="https://www.hansoll.com/_ENG/html/csr.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Hansoll Textile</a> have also pledged to reduce carbon emissions and create more sustainable products by 2030, and more than 130 brands <a href="https://unfccc.int/news/fashion-industry-steps-up-climate-ambition-with-renewed-charter" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">signed the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action</a> to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.<h2>Making progress on <keyword id="11896309" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sustainability" source="Orion">sustainability</keyword> through inclusivity, renewable energy, and waste management</h2><div type="image" title="two women holding a baby between them" height="800" width="1066" msid="91109059" hostid="261"></div>Even before launching the Plan for Change, MAS was dedicated to social and environmental causes, Amalean said. In 2003, they launched <a href="https://www.masholdings.com/plan-for-change/lives-changed-for-good/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Women Go Beyond</a> to address skills gaps for female workers in Sri Lanka and create gender equality in the business. Now 22% of management positions at the company are held by women. Initiatives like these or biodiversity restoration, where there's absolutely no clear revenue source, are considered operational expenditures or a cost of doing business.The company also aims to promote inclusivity, fair wages, and safe workplaces and offers childcare at 20 of its 50 facilities. Generating more renewable energy than it consumes is a central part of its sustainability initiative, and as of December 2021, 57% of the company was running on renewable energy sources.MAS recently completed the first phase of project <a href="https://www.masfabricpark.com/mas-photon.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Photon</a>, the largest multisite solar rooftop installation in Sri Lanka. It features 48,000 <keyword id="11957104" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="solar-panels" source="Orion">solar panels</keyword> spanning one million square feet and generates enough electricity to power 14,000 homes. Amalean said it was funded using 70% debt and 30% private equity investment, totaling about $12 million for 16 megawatts. More phases are in the works, he added.For initiatives like solar projects that have a positive net present value (NPV), it's relatively easy to find financing options, Amalean said. Banks are more willing to lend when there's a clear recurring revenue and associated payback period.<div type="image" title="a man installing solar panels" height="5499" width="7332" msid="91109060" hostid="261"></div>Eliminating waste is another goal. Amalean said MAS monitors and tracks waste at its facilities and strives to divert most of it from landfills. More than 40% of nontoxic, nonhazardous waste materials are recycled, reused, or turned into new resources.MAS has also reduced water usage in <keyword id="6362048" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="manufacturing" source="Orion">manufacturing</keyword> by 39% through rainwater harvesting, water-free dying processes, and reverse osmosis water filtration to reuse wastewater, Amalean added.<h2>Promoting accountability in the supply chain and measuring success</h2>In 2021, MAS generated 21% of its revenue from sustainable projects — the goal is 50% by 2025. Amalean said the company is also focused on sourcing recycled, organic, natural, and responsibly-sourced raw materials, making its design and manufacturing processes more efficient, and using post-consumer waste to create new products. Additionally, MAS is requiring suppliers to comply with the <a href="https://www.roadmaptozero.com/about?locale=en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals</a> program, a fashion industry initiative to eliminate harmful chemicals from the supply chain. Suppliers are "strongly encouraged" to sign up for the <a href="https://apparelcoalition.org/the-higg-index/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Higg Facility Environmental Module</a> assessment, Amalean said, and MAS tracks suppliers' progress using FEM and other tools, including <a href="https://www.cleanchain.com/about-us/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">CleanChain</a> and <a href="https://www.scivera.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Scivera</a>. MAS's sustainable business team of about 15 works companywide to ensure its own planet-focused progress, Amalean said, and uses a customized calibration tool to track how each facility is meeting environmental targets. Different facilities are at different stages, he added.While Amalean's team leads the company's climate-action initiatives, everyone in every department has sustainability goals. "Everybody's thinking about it and motivated to be sustainable," he said. "Otherwise, we get into silos and it's like, 'Oh, the sustainability team over there, they want us to do things.' There's no they and him and her. Everybody's doing this together."

How a Sri Lanka-based apparel manufacturer for brands like Lululemon is incorporating and funding sustainability initiatives

<ul class="summary-list"><li>When I was pregnant with my first child, I looked for <keyword id="14188039" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sustainable" source="Orion">sustainable</keyword> baby brands.</li><li>When I couldn't find any, I decided to create my own. </li></ul>I was shopping for children's clothes while I was pregnant with my first child when I noticed the lack of <a href="https://www.insider.com/sustainable-kid-products-diapers-toys-playsets-hand-me-downs-2022-3">sustainable</a> clothing brands that existed for children. It was 2018 and numerous brands were starting to use organic cotton, a good start towards <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/style/easy-sustainable-wardrobe-brands">sustainability</a>, but not the complete answer to it. There was a gap in the market for a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/gifts/eco-friendly-alternatives-for-everyday-products">sustainable</a> kids' clothing line, that not only put the environment first but also used materials that were destined for landfill. <a href="https://moncoeur.com/">Mon Coeur</a> — French for my heart — was created to address this need and to give a second life to materials that were discarded. <h2>I grew up traveling a lot</h2>My childhood began in the South of France in a small town called Mougins located between the mountain and the Mediterranean Sea. I always appreciated the sounds and sights of nature; it was inspiring and the perfect contrast to the hours I spent in a studio practicing ballet until I moved back to New York City at the age of 18.From studying in Washington DC to moving between Paris, Dubai, Hong Kong, and back to New York, I was furthering my education in business and hospitality, and I hadn't realized how much of the world I had seen.I saw first-hand the beauties that nature has to offer of untouched lands and the disastrous impact that global warming was having on crowded cities. When it came to launching Mon Coeur, I pulled inspiration and knowledge from my experiences and made it my mission to create a holistic, traceable source of children's fashion for the modern, environmentally friendly, and stylish child.<h2>I wanted to keep materials out of landfills</h2>When I launched the brand I approached it similar to my education. I spent three years researching the technology and how to turn existing materials from landfills into clothing.Through my research, I discovered that we could transform plastic bottles into polyester used in outerwear and raincoats — by melting PET bottles that create filaments — or use cotton scraps destined to landfill and use them in our yarn to avoid the usage and creation of any virgin fabrics.I was fascinated to discover every day that I could use anything already being made and give it a second life.We also want to venture into new territories and push to find new sustainable materials that we can make clothing from. For the first time ever, we released swimsuits made from recycled fishing nets.While designing our spring and summer collection, I watched this documentary on sea animals being trapped by fishing nets at the bottom of the oceans. Afterward, I looked into how we can find a way to get those finishing nets out of the ocean and give them a purpose. The future of sustainability and our planet is in the hands of younger generations and they are making more conscious choices when it comes to their buying decisions. It's important that beyond sustainable practices we continue to educate on why it's important to preserve mother earth but also to provide a sense of community — we are in this together.Since launching Mon Coeur, I have learned so much, my family has grown with the birth of my daughter and most importantly I have realized parents want better options for themselves and their kids, and that fills my heart.

I created the sustainable clothing brand for kids I couldn't find when I was pregnant. We make clothes from old fishing nets and deadstock fabric.

13 mistakes to avoid when shopping for clothes at a thrift store

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Economic downturns have changed how we shop for clothes.</li><li>After the <keyword id="12266328" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="great-recession" source="Orion">Great Recession</keyword>, fast <keyword id="11893303" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fashion" source="Orion">fashion</keyword> became the norm for millennials dressing professionally on a budget.</li></ul>You can thank the <keyword id="11893570" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="economy" source="Orion">economy</keyword> for your outfit of the day.The past two recessions have shaped key sectors of the fashion industry over the past 15 years. The 2007 financial crisis accelerated the rise of fast fashion among millennials much the same way that the <keyword id="12948405" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus-recession" source="Orion">coronavirus recession</keyword> heightened a shift toward the secondhand <keyword id="12062142" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="clothing" source="Orion">clothing</keyword> market among Gen Z. While both generations shop in both markets, each served as the trendsetters during the economic downturns they came of age in.In her new book, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dress-Code-Unlocking-Fashion-Millennial/dp/0063050838/ref=sr_1_2?crid=25TANSB0ND229&amp;keywords=dress+code&amp;qid=1650301149&amp;sprefix=dress+code%2Caps%2C765&amp;sr=8-2">Dress Code: Unlocking Fashion From the New Look to Millennial Pink</a>," Elle fashion features director Véronique Hyland explores how fast fashion emerged as the norm for millennial shoppers in the post-Great Recession era."'High-low' became first a personal style directive, and then more of an order, for strivers," she wrote, and went on to explain the term. "Millennial women, who entered the workforce during a recession, were advised to mimic a proper professional appearance by mixing fast-fashion items, often runway knockoffs, with 'investment pieces' at a time when investments of all kinds felt precarious."This advice was less often given to men, she added, because women were under more pressure to balance staying on trend with dressing appropriately for the office. "You didn't want to be too provocative or too prim; you wanted to pass as older and more authoritative while still looking cool," she wrote."Fast fashion was a lifehack that would help you easily hurdle class boundaries, or at least that's how I saw it" she added. She recalled wearing consignment versions of Prada with fast fashion pieces to her first fashion publication job to "pass off" as her peers, despite still living with her parents, paying off student debt, and living paycheck-to-paycheck.Fast fashion quickly normalized, Hyland wrote, as spotting a bargain became "a way to advertise you had champagne taste on a beer budget."<h2>Thrifting is becoming the new norm</h2>But fast fashion has <keyword id="11896309" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sustainability" source="Orion">sustainability</keyword> problems <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-driving-online-resale-secondhand-clothes-thrifting-poshmark-depop-2021-4">that Gen Z cares a lot about</a>: waste that contributes to the climate crisis, and workers subject to unethical labor practices, such as <a href="https://smartasset.com/credit-cards/the-economics-of-fast-fashion">16-hour work days and pay below the living wage</a>.The sustainable fashion industry grew in response, with rental fashion companies, thrifting, and ethically made clothing brands becoming more popular. It's a shift that the coronavirus recession accelerated.A recent <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?platform=browser&amp;postSource=bi%7C615b24d8ea58a405ad50ae0a&amp;sc=false&amp;type=LINK-WITH-REVIEW-SLASH-OUT&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thredup.com%2Fresale%2F%3Fmkt_tok%3DMjExLU5KWS0xNjUAAAF_tt2t-Cbo-INnOrNXAn2Jey4Br0SIk3vt9K8FMXRe9PBJJin37PN7DTR8wkJ7HioM2WuQyEV5KYlWur2eoDAPB508kogG4AMrmZEE_AIc-aKvH6o%23size-and-impact&amp;sessionid=16502993377648ew297r7" rel="nofollow sponsored noindex">report</a> from retail analytics firm GlobalData and the online thrift store ThredUp projected the secondhand market would reach $77 billion by 2025, up from its 2021 level of $30 billion as Jefferies estimated last April. About a quarter of the secondhand market is resale clothing, which Jefferies estimates will grow by 39% per year in the same time frame, coming to eventually account for over half of the market.Jefferies forecasts the secondhand clothing market will comprise a mid-teen percentage of the overall apparel market over the next decade, driven by online resale, with Gen Z leading the way. Socially and environmentally conscious, it makes sense that Gen Z would lean toward more ethical, eco-friendly <keyword id="11896038" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="shopping" source="Orion">shopping</keyword>. But sustainability isn't the only factor pulling Gen Z toward the secondhand market. The <keyword id="11896136" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="pandemic" source="Orion">pandemic</keyword> has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-nostalgia-y2k-indie-sleaze-old-money-economic-response-2022-1">sent Gen Z down a nostalgic path</a>, turning towards trends reminiscent of the millennium such as indie sleaze and <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/gen-z-s-nowstalgia-y2k-fashion-leading-thrifting-explosion-n1274720">Y2K fashion</a> as comfort during moments of economic instability. Deemed vintage by Gen Z, clothes for these trends can best be found at thrift stores.Emily Farra <a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/the-year-in-secondhand-vintage-upcycling-sustainable-fashion">wrote for Vogue</a> on the rise of vintage clothing in 2020, there's something to be said of a more subtle statement of a vintage piece of clothing instead of a flashy logo in a pandemic world."In a difficult year that's seen staggering unemployment and countless shuttered businesses, the shift toward vintage and secondhand could come down to a desire for less-conspicuous fashion," she wrote.

How 2 recessions changed what we wear

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Meet Casey Wojtalewicz, a sustainable-style enthusiast and Canyon Coffee founder based in Los Angeles.</li><li>This CEO's style is inspired by his commitment to the environment, growing up in the midwest, and living in LA.</li></ul>Canyon Coffee CEO Casey Wojtalewicz describes his style as "plains-meets-the-coast." His typical outfit: A t-shirt under an oversized jacket, slightly cropped pants, and utilitarian boots."It's rooted in my upbringing in rural America, but with the liberation and exploration of living in California," he said of his style.Wojtalewicz grew up in rural Minnesota and now lives in Los Angeles with his partner, Ally Walsh. Together they co-founded <a href="https://canyoncoffee.co/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Canyon Coffee</a>, a wholesale organic coffee roasting company. His style reflects his background as an environmental activist and his newer role as CEO.He prefers casual, refined clothing that can take him from the coffee warehouse to a meeting, in addition to brands that are transparent in sourcing and use sustainable products.He shared his outlook on style, some of his favorite brands, and advice on building your own look.<h2>Style can reflect your values and growth</h2>Wojtalewicz's style has evolved around his values and his location. He said he still dresses in a way that would fit in with his rural hometown but is also inspired by his lifestyle in LA. His wardrobe has also evolved because of his profession."I'm a CEO trying to become more refined, a little more clean, and deliberate in the choices I'm making," Wojtalewicz said.Neutral, earthen, casual, and comfortable are words Wojtalewicz uses to describe his look. While brand names aren't important to him, he said he supports companies that align with his values."I do promote and care about brands who are doing good work, in terms of making products of quality and making the effort to be transparent with their supply chain and production," he said.<h2>Sustainable clothing and skincare are the future</h2><div type="image" title="Casey Wojtalewicz pouring Canyon Coffee Angel's Envy" height="3006" width="4000" msid="90087069" hostid="261"></div>Even though sustainability has always been important to Wojtalewicz, he sees this as a trend that's gaining momentum. He thinks brands that are transparent and sustainable are the future. "It's a newer development that clothing companies are speaking and showing their process more and being better about their impact," he said.One apparel brand that inspires him is Christy Dawn — a dress company that has a "farm-to-closet" collection made from a regenerative cotton farm in India. Others are Jungmaven, a high-quality hemp clothing brand, for its integrity and commitment to sustainability, and Olderbrother for its toxin-free process that uses natural dyes like tannins and indigo in its clothing.Besides buying from sustainable brands, Wojtalewicz also recommends shopping vintage, recycled, upcycled, or secondhand clothes. He likes browsing the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles or sifting through the vintage sections of boutique stores.<h2>Find trends and brands that fit who you are now</h2>For Wojtalewicz, part of evolving in his style was checking in with himself to ensure the way he dressed still aligned with him. Some brands he used to wear in his teenage years and 20s no longer serve him."It's important at different stages of your life to reassess, am I just buying this because it's what I'm used to now? Is this still what I want to project?" he said.Now that he's in a relationship, he said his partner also influences what he buys. He wants to make sure she likes it, too. And sometimes, they share clothes. He recently found a women's jacket in the vintage section of a boutique in Venice that they both wear."That's actually one trend that I've seen that I am a big fan of — unisex clothing," he said. He encourages people to have fun exploring different clothing, styles, and trends. But, at the same time, he said to only follow a trend if it works for you.<h2>Add a finishing touch to your signature style</h2>Recently, Wojtalewicz and his team at Canyon Coffee had a hand in creating limited-run merchandise for the brand. Since they're a certified organic roaster, they made sure to work with local vendors and use organic materials. For the signature Canyon Coffee hand-sewn sweatshirts, the finishing touch was hand-dying them in their own coffee.The bourbon brand Angel's Envy also experiments with flavor profiles created by hand blending small batches. The premium bourbon is aged in charred new white oak barrels for four to six years and then finished up to six months in ruby port wine barrels, creating a nuanced yet approachable flavor profile.For Wojtalewicz, the finishing touch on his outfits is a rolled-up and cuffed sleeve, and sunglasses with a leather strap made by his friends."I like the look for some reason, I guess it's more of a tapered effect," he said."And I guess that's a part of feeling a little more refined."<a href="https://www.angelsenvy.com/">Learn more about how Angel's Envy handcrafts its bourbon here.</a>This post was created by <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sponsor-posts">Insider Studios</a> with <a href="https://www.angelsenvy.com/">Angel's Envy</a>.

A coffee company cofounder shares his personal style and how it aligns with his values

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Contestants on a British dating show are wearing secondhand clothing in a partnership with eBay UK.</li><li>Fashion's carbon footprint is bigger than international flights' and maritime shipping's combined.</li></ul>The singles looking for romance might be young, but their clothes aren't. The secondhand-fashion market got a major endorsement on Monday as millions of viewers tuned into the new season of "<keyword id="11930675" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="love-island" source="Orion">Love Island</keyword> UK," a competitive-dating show and British cultural phenomenon. Contestants wore a mix of new and "pre-loved" clothing <a href="https://www.itvmedia.co.uk/making-an-impact/ebay-becomes-love-islands-first-ever-pre-loved-fashion-partner">under a new partnership between "Love Island" and eBay UK</a> aimed at promoting <keyword id="11896309" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sustainability" source="Orion">sustainability</keyword> and shifting away from the <keyword id="11974708" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fast-fashion" source="Orion">fast fashion</keyword> of seasons past, when brands like I Saw It First and Missguided supplied wardrobes for the cast.Fans can download the show's app to shop a curated collection on eBay."As one of the original homes of pre-loved, we believe that by joining forces with this incredibly influential programme, we'll inspire the nation to think differently and make more conscious choices when it comes to their wardrobes," Eve Williams, the chief marketing officer at eBay UK, said in a statement announcing the partnership. The premier came at an inflection point both for the fashion-resale market and the push to solve the climate crisis. More eco-conscious consumers are examining the clothes and accessories they buy because the fashion industry contributes 8 to 10% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, <a href="https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/un-alliance-sustainable-fashion-addresses-damage-fast-fashion">according to the UN Environment Assembly</a>. That's more than the contributions of international flights and maritime shipping combined; and fashion uses more water than any industry except agriculture. Luckily for shoppers wanting to curb their fast-fashion habit, it's now easier than ever to shop for pre-owned clothes online and digital tools that authenticate luxury goods help protect against fraudsters. The trade publication Business of Fashion <a href="https://www.businessoffashion.com/reports/retail/the-future-of-fashion-resale-report-bof-insights/">expects sales to more than double</a> to $57 billion by 2025. A spokesperson for eBay UK said the company expects a "huge uplift" in searches for clothes seen on "Love Island," boosting a trend over the last year when searches for secondhand clothes multiplied eightfold, with younger members of Gen Z leading the charge. That led to keeping some 17,770 tons of fashion items out of UK landfills in 2021, the equivalent of 1,404 double-decker buses, she said.Over 300,000 tons of fashion has-beens are sent to UK landfills each year, according to government data.Several online marketplaces — including ThredUp, The RealReal, and Poshmark — have gone public in recent years with mixed performance on the stock market, yet a growing customer base. Last year, Etsy acquired London's Depop for $1.6 billion. Legacy brands and retailers are working with those companies or launching their own resale strategies to gain footholds, from Walmart's <a href="https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2020/05/27/walmart-partners-with-thredup-to-enter-popular-fashion-resale-market">shop</a> on ThredUp to Nike Refurbished and H&amp;M's RE:WEAR.Featuring secondhand clothes on "Love Island" is like advertising electric vehicles in the US during the Super Bowl, Karen Pearson, chair of the Fashion Institute of Technology's Sustainability <a href="https://www.fitnyc.edu/about/initiatives/sustainability/campus-groups/sustainability-council/index.php">Council</a>, said."This is a way to promote sustainability to a broad audience and make resale accessible," she said. "Small changes by a lot of people can have a big impact."The impact on sales may be significant, but the secondhand market still only accounts for a small fraction of the $2.5 trillion global-apparel industry. Since the early 2000s, the industry has <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/02/how-the-circular-economy-is-redesigning-fashions-future/">doubled production</a> and the majority of what it produces ends up in landfills or burned. The UN says the average consumer snaps up 60% more clothing than 15 years ago, but keeps each item for only half as long.Previous "Love Island" contestants are intertwined with the fashion industry, often amassing millions of followers and <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/love-islands-molly-mae-hague-24907391">leveraging that into deals promoting fast-fashion brands</a>. While expanding the resale market can help reduce the industry's carbon footprint, climate advocates and analysts say the industry's largest players have to do more to improve their environmental and social impact with a nudge from policymakers. Earlier this month, an <a href="https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/sustainability/widespread-inaction-on-sustainability-eclipses-progress-at-fashions-biggest-companies/">analysis of 30 companies on the Business of Fashion's sustainability index</a> found a substantial gap between public promises to curb climate change and adopting more responsible business practices by 2030. The ranking included Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, H&amp;M, Lululemon Athletica, Nike, and Zara-parent Inditex on issues such as emissions, waste, water and chemical use, and workers' rights.No company scored higher than 49 out of 100, with the five lowest performers scoring fewer than 10 points. That group included URBN, Skechers, Fila Holdings, Anta, and HLA Group, all of which had few, if any, public plans to address their environmental and social impact. Consumers are catching on. Half of those who responded to <a href="https://www.thredup.com/resale/#transforming-closets">ThredUp's January survey</a> said fast fashion is harmful to the environment, and more than a third said the industry's sustainability claims feel like greenwashing. Yet many fast-fashion shoppers admit it's a hard habit to kick because of the bargain prices.Pearson said fashion is one of many industries that's been slow to address climate change. But she expects business models to change as consumers demand more ethically made goods and government policies encourage greener manufacturing and make it more expensive to pollute."Brands want their products to be lusty and a status symbol," she said. "But if they don't meet customer expectations on sustainability, they may get left behind."

The UK's 'Love Island' dating show dumps fast fashion and hooks singles up with 'pre-loved' clothing

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Building a capsule wardrobe is a great way to repeat outfits while staying in style.</li><li>Stylists shared shopping tips to follow as you grow a collection of clothes to wear again and again.</li></ul>Over time, you'll probably find there are pieces you wear again and again in your wardrobe — but often it can be hard to style them together in a way that makes sense.But thankfully, Business Insider recently spoke to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/french-fashion-capsule-wardrobe-what-to-buy-2023-12?r=US&amp;IR=T">stylists about building a capsule closet</a> with inspiration from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/what-to-wear-paris-accoriding-to-parisian-style-fashion-influencers-2023-7">French style</a>.As you go about building your wardrobe, stylists recommend keeping a few <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/mistakes-you-make-shop-for-a-new-wardrobe-stylist-2023-10">shopping tips</a> in mind. BI tapped stylists <a target="_blank" href="https://thenewyorkstylist.com/">Liz Teich</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.the-look.ca/">Neda Kalantar</a> for their advice so that — no matter what aesthetic you're going for — you can fill your closet with quality pieces you'll wear time and time again.<h2>First, remember that you don't need a whole new closet</h2><div type="image" title="A front view of the hanging rail inside a closet with closet items hung on coat hangers" height="1080" width="1440" msid="106190679" hostid="261" sizebytes="112344"></div>Teich told BI that when working with clients, she aims to use as many of their existing pieces as possible to start building their capsule wardrobe around."I'm big into <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/sustainable-stylist-says-best-place-to-shop-is-your-closet-2022-9">sustainable fashion</a> and creating less waste and not having to buy new things constantly," she told BI.For existing pieces, Teich said it's important to ensure your garments fit correctly. If they don't, the stylist recommends taking them to a tailor.Teich said everybody has particular pieces for a reason, but sometimes they don't know how to style them or have the right items to compliment them — and that's where the stylist comes in.<h2>When shopping for new items, invest in quality materials — and avoid dry-clean only garments</h2>Teich said a big part of a capsule wardrobe is investing in better <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/signs-clothes-good-quality-2019-1">quality fabrics</a>. These will last the test of time, which is important if you're building a capsule closet with pieces you'll wear repeatedly.She added that natural fabrics are better for the environment, but <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/jul/12/clean-and-green-how-to-pick-a-dry-cleaner-thats-good-for-the-environment-and-you">dry cleaning is typically not</a>."It's also bad for your clothes because the chemicals can eat away at the fibers," which Teich explains is why some cashmere sweaters can look drab after being dry-cleaned.Instead, opt for machine or hand-wash items that don't require sending to a professional. You're more likely to wear them more anyway.<h2>Beware of poor quality when vintage shopping</h2><div type="image" title="A women in a thrift shop inspecting a blue short sleeve shirt" height="1080" width="1440" msid="106190682" hostid="261" sizebytes="170574"></div>Paris-based stylist <a target="_blank" href="https://www.the-look.ca/">Neda Kalantar</a>, said vintage shopping is a big business in the French capital and with Gen Z in particular, like it is in the US. She added that her sisters, who are 12 and 16 years old, opt for trips to the Salvation Army over the mall.Teich said that when shopping on a tighter budget for designers, secondhand retailers like Poshmark, The Real Real, and Vestiaire Collective, can be great places to look.But vintage items, like anything else, can vary in quality."Make sure you look at the material that's listed on the tags," Kalantar said, speaking of vintage items. She recommends avoiding synthetic materials that won't hold up over time.Kalantar recommends buying leather jackets from vintage stores, and said this is often a smart purchase since they're usually much cheaper than purchasing new. Just make sure it's not made with old, fake leather, which can crumble when exposed to heat and moisture, she said, adding that she prefers genuine leather. Of course, if you don't want to buy real leather, you could always look for a newer, faux version.Whatever you're shopping for, just remember quality is key.

3 shopping tips from stylists to buy clothes you'll wear on repeat throughout 2024

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Used clothing sales are predicted to reach $77 billion by 2025, driven largely by resale sites.</li><li>Retailers have taken notice, and some are starting to offer their own trade-in or peer-to-peer resale sites.</li></ul>It feels like everywhere you look, apparel retailers are diving into the secondhand clothing market. Outdoor retailer REI lets you trade in your old gear for a store gift card, Madewell is reselling "pre-loved" jeans, and Urban Outfitters created its own resale marketplace where shoppers can buy and sell clothing from its own brands and others. Taken together, these resale initiatives are a sign that apparel retailers are finally realizing the value — both in a business sense and an environmental sense — in embracing secondhand clothing. "The secondhand market was always looked at as competition to them, potentially cannibalizing their new sales," Aditya Vedantam, assistant professor at the University at Buffalo School of Management, told Insider. "Most of these brands are now starting understand the value in selling refurbished or semi-refurbished apparel."<h2>The secondhand market is expected to boom over the next five years</h2>The resale platform <keyword id="12752468" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="thredup" source="Orion">ThredUp</keyword> predicted in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thredup.com%2Fresale%2F%23size-and-impact">a 2021 report</a> that used clothing sales would reach $77 billion by 2025, up from $36 billion in 2021. Resale, rather than more traditional donation or thrift models, is driving that growth.It's a sign that the fast-fashion heyday of the 2010s is beginning to fade. Driven largely by social media, that trend dictated that a steady stream of new outfits was preferable to a few quality pieces. Disposable clothing, worn once or twice for the 'gram and then discarded, became the norm. But shoppers of today are looking for something different. ThredUp's survey of the "post-pandemic consumer" found that shoppers care more about <keyword id="11896309" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sustainability" source="Orion">sustainability</keyword> and quality than they did in the past — 51% said they feel more opposed to "eco-waste" now than they did before the pandemic. Because of that, they're turning to used apparel. A cohort of Gen Z shoppers are helping to lead that charge. While teens still prefer fashion brands like PacSun, Zara, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shein-china-billion-dollar-company-fast-fashion-brand-2021-8">ultra-low-cost retailer Shein</a>, they're also allocating as much as 8% of their shopping to the secondhand market, according to <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211005005378/en/Piper-Sandler-Completes-42nd-Semi-Annual-Generation-Z-Survey-of-10000-U.S.-Teens">Piper Sandler's semi-annual survey of 10,000 teens.</a> The most recent survey found that 51% of teens have purchased secondhand clothing, while 62% have sold it. <h2>A new way to make money</h2>None of this is lost on retailers. Jumping into the <keyword id="12705099" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="resale-market" source="Orion">resale market</keyword> awards them cool points with young shoppers who value sustainability — in turn, those shoppers are willing to spend their money with brands that align with their values. For apparel companies, that means a new way to make money.The brands that are diving into resale are typically opting for one of two resale models, according to Vedantam: trade-in or peer-to-peer marketplace. The trade-in model, used by REI, Madewell, Patagonia, and Eileen Fisher, allows customers to send back their unwanted items and receive discounts or gift cards in return. Those items are then repaired and resold by the company or recycled. The peer-to-peer model, favored by British retailer ASOS and H&amp;M-owned minimalist fashion brand Cos, lets consumers handle the buying and selling on an online marketplace while the retailer takes a cut of the sale. And brands don't even need to build that marketplace on their own: A new startup called Archive <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/25/archive-aims-to-put-clothing-brands-in-control-of-their-secondhand-sales/?tpcc=tcplustwitter&amp;guccounter=1">just landed $8 million in funding</a> to build custom resale marketplaces for retailers, and brands like The North Face and Oscar de la Renta have already signed on.Their are pros and cons to both options, Vedantam says. The trade-in model lets retailers have more control over their products and possibly charge higher prices. But it also requires the retailer to set up a whole network of infrastructure: a warehouse to store the items, the staff to process returns and make repairs, and so on. But the peer-to-peer model has its own challenges. While retailers can shift the burden of listing, repairing, and shipping the products onto the consumer, they don't have any control over the quality of the items. Still, it seems that regardless of how brands go about selling used clothes, "depending on the product attributes, either model can be more profitable," Vedantam said.<h2>A win-win-win</h2><div type="image" title="landfill" height="3712" width="4949" msid="89370898" hostid="261"></div>Of course, it's hard to talk about <keyword id="11947993" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="secondhand-apparel" source="Orion">secondhand apparel</keyword> without weighing the environmental impact. The apparel industry is one of the world's largest polluters, from when the first seed of cotton is planted to how much energy we use washing our clothes. And when we get rid of unwanted clothes, either by returning an item we just bought or throwing out old garments, there's a high likelihood they'll end up in landfills: 6 billion pounds of <keyword id="12911499" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="retail-returns" source="Orion">retail returns</keyword> alone <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-happens-to-returned-products-restock-resale-landfill-2022-1">end up in landfills</a> each year. "There is no regulation, unlike electronics and other items, to mandate the safe disposal of apparel," Vedantam said. "Many times, apparel is just landfilled or incinerated." So by getting your old clothes resold, you're keeping those items out of landfills, at least for now; by purchasing used goods, you're opting out of the environmentally costly clothing production process and probably getting a product for cheap.Which means if both consumers and retailers play their cards right, used clothing could be a win for everyone, including the environment. "You can have a good experience with refurbished apparel. It gives you the same good feeling regarding the brand, it gives you high quality, and you don't end up paying too much," Vedantam said. "Retailers are recognizing that the used market is going to be really big in the next few years. This is something that is gonna stay."

You Searched For "sustainable clothing" and got 11 results

Fabric of a nation: Sustaining India's handloom legacy in modern times

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I buy most of my kids' clothes secondhand and then resell them. Here are 4 tips for kids' consignment success.

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Why designer Eileen Fisher set an unachievable sustainability goal

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How a Sri Lanka-based apparel manufacturer for brands like Lululemon is incorporating and funding sustainability initiatives

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I created the sustainable clothing brand for kids I couldn't find when I was pregnant. We make clothes from old fishing nets and deadstock fabric.

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Retailers are jumping on the resale bandwagon now that secondhand clothes are cool (and profitable)

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