World Wisdom: Women’s Resale Retail Delivers Eco-Conscious Bang For Your Buck

At nearly two-trillion dollars in annual global sales, we know the fashion industry is big business. And the future of fashion is green, financially and environmentally.

Resale Retail is an exploding sector of the apparel industry, doubling over the past few years and expected to double once again by 2027. This means even people who have never stepped foot in a “consignment” store are increasingly likely to do so very soon. But what they step into is very different than what we usually imagine.

Holly Morris opened Clothes Mentor in Plantation, FL, with the goal of being part of the next generation of Resale Retail. That means more than updating logos and creating a splashy display window. She says there are several aspects of Resale Retail attracting new customers and having older shoppers give the sector a second look.

• Quality   Not everything someone brings in is accepted. “We don’t buy just anything. Each garment is carefully inspected for signs of wear or hidden stains,” Holly says. Clothes you find in stores like Clothes Mentor are ready to wear and look like they’re fresh off the production line. Many items are brand new with the original tags still attached.

• Designer Names, Affordable Prices   $800 Loubitans for $175? Check the red soles for yourself! Many women buy a new, pricy outfit then let it sit in the closet. Once they dig it out, they’ve already moved on to new clothes. Resale Retail gives them a fashionably fresh second wear.

• Green Is King   More and more fashion producers are signing on to be more eco-friendly. But the fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global pollution, and it will take more than marketing green practices to make an impact. Eco-conscious consumers are embracing resale retail as a way to make an impact, and look fabulous doing it.

• Big Fashion is Embracing the Movement   A-List designers yell “NEW! NEW! NEW!” But they see the future and are embracing Resale Retail. Brands including Levi, Patagonia, and Eileen Fisher are developing their own Resale programs. But why settle for just one designer? Clothes Mentor is better because they have an array of designer fashions, many with the original tags still attached.

• Consumer Cash Now   The more money that goes out, the more money that comes in. Resale Retail buys your clothes, but unlike traditional consignment stores, places like Clothes Mentor will give you cash on-the-spot. Consumers can clean out your closet, get money, and spend it by picking new outfits on the spot.

When you take a broad view of the fashion industry, you can see where the trend is going: Resale Retail. Consumers are careful with every dollar, and when they see a deal, they snatch it up. Stores like Clothes Mentor don’t just stock clothes, they stock deals. Those deals mean dollars for anyone in the fashion industry who are smart enough to see them.