Our footprint on Earth is just not sustainable. It’s crystal clear! As a result of our collective efforts to reconsider our everyday decisions and purchasing patterns, trendsetting circular fashion is a non-debatable urgency! So, is resale the port of call to closing the loop?

Retailers have begun to absorb the awareness of socio-environmental hazards. Even companies that don’t label themselves as “eco-friendly” understand the need to take the leap. Otherwise, they’ll be trailing behind the environmentally-friendly clothing generation, Gen Z, which has approximately $150 billion in spending power. Previously disregarded by traditional retail, resale has been gaining prominence in the face of fast fashion and sustainability. In fact, reselling an item can extend its lifespan and cut its environmental impact by 82%. And Gen Z approves it! So, marketers are compelled to consider it in their strategy. In the long run, this growing initiative is sure to change fashion for the better. Here’s already the jutting forecasts:

With these figures at hand, the luxury resale, vintage, and pre-loved markets are flourishing apace. They aren’t emerging concepts, nonetheless, their hybrid approach with technology certainly is. In the last couple of years, several platforms and online consignments have grown a selective or massive clientele willing to buy, trade, or sell their clothing. For example, Libas Collective is an e-commerce for vintage clothing and pre-loved designer luxuries. Its sustainability roadmap includes empowering and expanding its community of “fashion-forward advocates” through its fashion-conscious movement. Stowing also a “libas collective-Approved” label on certain resale items showcased on its app and website, it’s shedding light on pre-loved authenticity certification. We’re one step closer to our green promise by enjoying authentic luxuries more responsibly!

Since the pandemic, when people had to buy and sell items online amid store closures, they’ve boosted a huge uptick for online fashion marketplaces which mostly are focused on time management, and are secure and easy to navigate. According to surveys, sellers are inspired by decluttering their closets but are discouraged by a lack of time. <b>60% of people</b> who sell used goods want to declutter their wardrobes and make more space in their closets. Moreover, major brands are joining the resale market to remain competitive and provide more affordable alternatives. For instance, have you heard Hugo Boss introduced a resale business named “Hugo Boss Pre-Loved” in France a while ago? Indeed, to capitalize on the urgency of paving a more fashion-responsible future before the masses.

Given that the majority of resale platforms are online-only, the challenges of not being able to try on items before purchasing remain; as customers take into account this factor first and foremost in their purchasing decision. On a side note, pre-loved fashion still carries a stigma in some nations in the MENA, but attitudes are steadily shifting, especially among Millennials and Gen-Z, who are more concerned with ESG. More than ever, brands and online retailers are collaborating to disrupt the negative views people have on pre-loved clothing and emphasize the long-term advantages of doing so. And Libas Collective has already taken the lead in disrupting how customers enjoy luxury fashion in the UAE by approaching fashion more consciously. Such a promising step from within to steer a worldwide circularity footprint! Did you even know that a brand may reach more potential customers by engaging in the resale market because over 60% of consumers have either found a brand or purchased it for the first time pre-loved? So, it sounds like a powerful investment. Striving for a sustainable rebirth of fashion is the imminent road ahead. Players can point out to customers that low-priced luxuries found on resale platforms are a unique selling proposition, alongside communicating their sustainability mindset to draw customers. Be the change and learn how you can join our mission now!