To promote circular shopping and extending the life cycle of garments, contemporary fashion brand COS has announced its new second-hand shopping platform Resell, which will allow customers to buy and sell used clothing.
Resell will be available in the UK and Germany this month and will be extended to other countries throughout Fall. Sellers will be able to upload products, set prices and handle postage remotely while paying COS 10% commission for use of their site.
H&M, the parent company of COS, has been widely criticized in the past for its fast-fashion business model and mass production. As such, the fashion group seeks to take major steps towards a more sustainable future. However, is a resale site enough?
Critics argue that to tackle the environmental damage fast fashion is having on the planet, retailers must look at sustainable raw materials, the production methods used and the working conditions these clothes are made in. It is not enough to simply jump on the resale bandwagon as its popularity amongst consumers increases.
It is clear why H&M has chosen the COS brand to test out this new model; their designs are minimalist with many classic and tailored pieces that will stand the test of time. COS has also created conscientious and sustainable clothing in the past.
COS is currently working towards a goal of ‘using 100% recycled, repurposed or more sustainably sourced materials by 2030, if not sooner’, and is committed to revising their current practices. So, while Resell may seem like a small first step to some, it is a positive change to make for the future of retail and the environment – one which other retailers will hopefully choose to follow.
