The rapid purchase-to-discard ratio of clothing creates a major waste problem. When consumers throw away clothing in the garbage, they not only waste money and resources but also contribute to the decomposition issue. During the decomposition process of sometimes more than 200 years, textiles generate methane and leak toxic chemicals and dyes into the groundwater and the soil. There is also an unmet potential of clothing which could be resold with its lifetime extended - as opposed to manufacturing new clothing which requires more energy and water and is associated with more carbon emissions. Finally, there is a lack of incentives for people to responsibly pass on/resell their unwanted clothing due to the associated costs, be that time or monetary (e.g. shipping).

Tradesy addresses these problems by providing an easy way to redirect unwanted luxury clothing and resell it online. A seller uploads their pre-loved luxury items on the online platform and pays a commission fee if their clothing gets sold. The fee can be either flat ($7.5) or a percentage (19.8%), depending on the selling price. The shipping cost is covered by the platform and a seller receives a pre-paid, pre-addressed shopping kit when the sale is made.

Tradesy changes the world of fashion both financially and environmentally. Firstly, it creates an additional source of income for sellers and allows buyers to save up to 70% on top brands. Secondly, it avoids environmental damage from the production of new items, promotes second-hand fashion, and shifts consumption habits from new to pre-owned. According to Vestiaire Collective, an item bought on Tradesy is 90% less environmentally intensive than a new item.

Photo Credit: Tamara Bellis on Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/photos/U2ymajzuqFk)