According to the German fashion house Hugo Boss, resale is a booming market that contributes to reducing the environmental impact of the fashion industry and represents a market volume of 30 to 40 billion dollars worldwide.
In addition to presenting itself as an important niche on which to grow in economic terms, it also serves as an important lever that helps reduce the amount of clothing that is discarded through the sale of second-hand items with which also now an average of 44% of CO2 emissions, compared to the purchase of new garments.
Hugo Boss Grows in Circularity by Entering the Resale Business
As part of its determined ambition to become a fashion group with a markedly sustainable and circular character, the European multinational Hugo Boss, a company that remains active in the market through the commercial brands "Boss" and "Hugo", announced its entry into the business of reselling second-hand fashion garments last year with the launch of "Hugo Boss Pre-Loved".
This platform seeks to extend the useful life of the company's pieces, as part of a strategy in favor of circularity that will be completed with the launch of a series of other initiatives, such as new services for the care and repair of garments and accessories.
Through the supplier Faume, the European Group offers its customers the possibility of accessing a new section recently created under the title "Hugo Boss Pre-Loved" through the Hugo Boss online website, from which they will be able to access the company's two product lines. This gives the possibility of selling those Hugo Boss garments they no longer want to keep in their closet, as well as acquiring those second-hand pieces deposited by other customers of the Group's brands.
In exchange for this action, customers receive credits that can be used both through the physical channel and from the stores and the online channel, for the acquisition of both new and second-hand products. This last option will only be available through digital media, thanks to the new resale platform "Pre-Loved", which Hugo Boss began to operate during the third quarter of 2022.
In addition to the launch of this new resale platform, following the decisions that have begun to be agreed upon within the European Union in its war against "Fast Fashion" and "Greenwashing", Hugo Boss also announced that it will begin to offer from its store’s new services for the care and repair of its articles. These services will extend the maximum life of suits, jeans, shoes, knitwear, and leather goods.
Hugo Boss’ Sustainable Materials
Hugo Boss sources its cotton responsibly. Its “Responsible” cotton sources include cotton from regenerative agriculture, certified organic cotton and cotton from Cotton Made in Africa, a mass balance system. Cotton Made in Africa is an initiative of the Aid by Trade Foundation that produces cotton that is 100% irrigated with rainwater, meaning no additional water and no use of genetically modified organisms.
This initiative supports smallholder farmers to promote gender equality, decent working conditions and respect for children's rights. All participants receive training in organic production and climate-friendly farming methods.
Hugo Boss sources its leather from Leather Working Group-certified tanneries, and in all its leather products the company only use leftover hides and skins from the food industry. As far as its recycled polyester goes, the fashion brand only uses raw materials with a verified chain of custody, from trustworthy companies such as ECONYL® and REPREVE® to guarantee the use of recycled content.
Sustainable Apparel and Textiles Conference - Innovation Forum
The Sustainable Apparel and Textiles Conference held by Innovation Forum in Amsterdam will address how brands must align and adapt practices to deliver on growing stakeholder expectations.
This two-day sustainability conference will address how brands can adapt practices to move towards regenerative apparel and deliver on growing stakeholder expectations. It’ll equip delegates with the best-practice and guidance to develop net-zero strategies, transform supply chains, engage consumers, scale circularity, and drive positive social impacts.
Representing Hugo Boss, Senior Vice President Group Strategy & Corporate Development Dorothee Niebergall will be in attendance. The business conference will have focused debates on how brands can ensure ethical supply chains for workers, implement circularity and regenerative agriculture to achieve net-zero targets, and engage with consumers with transparency to build trust. Join senior representatives from Patagonia, Adidas, Circle Economy, VF Corporation and many more.