There is staggering damage done to the environment in the name of fast-fashion -- from water pollution from dying fabrics to enormous quantities of landfill garbage -- and to combat this, sustainable fashion leader Patagonia launched its first Worn Wear store.
Patagonia's Worn Wear store is the brand's first physical brick-and-mortar location solely for resale and boasts a unique, barter-system styled business model. It functions "by buying customers' products back from them, provided they're in good condition, in exchange for store credit." The store will be stocked with Patagonia's 'Worn Wear' products (a.k.a. second-hand) and its ReCrafted Collection, defined as "clothes made from other clothes."
The second-hand store is located in Boulder, Colorada and will remain open until February 2020.
Branded Second-Hand Stores
Patagonia Fights Fast Fashion By Launching First Worn Wear Stores
Trend Themes
1. Barter-system Styled Business Model - There is an opportunity for businesses to adopt a barter-system styled business model for their reselling operations, creating a unique and sustainable approach in the market.
2. Resale and Second-hand Fashion - The rising popularity of resale and second-hand fashion presents an opportunity for brands to launch their own branded second-hand stores, tapping into the growing consumer demand for sustainable fashion alternatives.
3. Circular Fashion Economy - The launch of Patagonia's Worn Wear store highlights the potential for businesses to contribute to the circular fashion economy, where products are recycled, repaired, and resold to reduce environmental waste and promote sustainable practices.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion Retail - Fashion retail industry can leverage the branded second-hand store trend to offer consumers a sustainable alternative to fast fashion and contribute to reducing environmental impact.
2. Apparel and Clothing - Apparel and clothing industry can explore the disruptive innovation opportunity of creating their own second-hand stores to extend the product lifecycle and cater to eco-conscious consumers.
3. Sustainability - Different industries, such as fashion, retail, and consumer goods, can embrace the concept of circular economy and sustainability by integrating their own resale and second-hand initiatives, opening opportunities for disruptive innovation.