Vestiaire Collective, Sustainable Fashion At Its Best

Fashion and Sustainability:

Our Earth is deteriorating; climate change and its consequences have become old news now. Are we doing enough? Have our industries integrated the aim of sustainability properly? In all the seemingly unending chaos, Vestiaire Collective is a glimmer of hope. It is a marketplace for reselling high-end used clothing and accessories, with sustainability as its main characteristic.  

The Fashion industry has done a lot of harm in recent years. Consumerism is at an all time high, and today we wear our belongings 40% less than 10 years ago. 11 years ago, these were the realizations and problems which led to the start of Vestiaire Collective.  

Fashion is one of the most polluting industries. Along with that, the industry shows no sign of stopping. The global fast fashion market alone is expected to grow by 21.9% (compound annual growth rate) in 2021 as compared to in 2020.  

So Vestiaire took upon themselves to fix this problem by creating a marketplace for pre owned luxury fashion products. They have taken a leading step to make the clothing industry more sustainable by selling clothes we no longer wear instead of wasting them. The aim of this company is to empower Fashion Activists, and to mobilize them to drive this big change. It is not only up to them, they insist it is all of us who are needed to bring about this change!

Setting the benchmark:

The small step that Vestiaire Collective took more than a decade ago is now a strong force for greater good. Vestiaire Collective has:

• Created an enthusiastic and determined workforce. The employees are each given two days in a year to help out any organization of their choice. Also, this workforce is an inclusive community of Fashion enthusiasts: they have an internal taskforce with 5 teams that are solely dedicated to supporting and empowering the fight for equal opportunity, for women’s empowerment, ethnic diversity, disability, and LGBTQIA+.
• Vestiaire Collective has gained the status of world’s first B Corp fashion resale platform. This is a big achievement in the fashion eco-system and has substantiated the position of this company and also given hope to many others that radical change is possible if we join hands.  

Fashion is one of the most polluting industries so Vestiaire took upon themselves to fix this problem by creating a marketplace for pre-owned luxury fashion products.

Eco-friendly protocols:

Shipping: more than 50% of orders are bought locally. If not that, a direct shipping option is used. These policies lead to more than 1,167 tons of CO2 being saved. Vestiaire Collective also plans to add more options for delivery and shipping so sustainability is optimized.  

Product packaging: Vestiaire Collective has a policy of “less is more” when it comes to packaging. No unneeded materials are made use of; their new packaging and its logistics are fully reduced, recycled, and recyclable.  

Milestones achieved and a call for help:

Vestiaire Collective alone has done much for the fashion industry. Even as such, they always emphasize the need for more effort and more care for the environment. The company has taken a rigorous approach to awareness and education by collaborating with Fashion Activists, as their brand film shows with its substantial views and reach. They also reward customers who are responsible consumers and their “Collective for Change'' program connects leading Fashion Activists with their global community.  

Vestiaire Collective has already become a part of the UN Fashion Alliance and Ellen MacArthur Foundation. It has also established partnerships with renowned brands such as Alexander McQueen and Mulberry. The brand also shares its data and knowledge in an open-source way to ensure maximum benefit can be attained by their own knowledge, experiences, and learning.

The past and looking forward:

Vestiaire Collective has come a long way. It has stayed true to its goal and continues to keep on fighting for a better future for us. The progress they have made, the community that they have established, and the undying persistence with which the brand moves is truly inspiring. They are authentic and genuine in their way of functioning and have become a noticeable voice for change in the Fashion ecosystem. The fact that in April alone they raised $64 million substantiates all their claims and is encouraging for new sustainable and eco friendly ventures.  

This brand has stricken up an original conversation about Fashion activism and ways in which it can become a force of good. An inclusive global workforce that expands to the level of the UN and has partnerships with luxurious brands such as Mulberry, all of this was unimagined and unheard of previously. This only goes to show that sustainability is not the future but it is now, and it is up to us if we take a stand and believe in our convictions strongly enough to change the world tomorrow. Go visit their website and Instagram (@vestiaireco) for more updates and to find out ways in which you can contribute.  

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