First Look: ThredUp, Madewell partner on secondhand clothing store
ThredUp and Madewell have joined forces to open a store that only sells previously owned Madewell items.
The online fashion resale platform and apparel retailer, part of J. Crew Group, have opened “A Circular Store,” in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Designed to educate consumers on the impact of circular fashion, the “one-of-a-kind” location will be open until the end of October. It follows the launch earlier this year of Madewell Forever, which is the retailer’s resale platform powered by ThredUP’s resale-as-a-service offering.
“At Madewell, we make quality products designed for longevity and are doubling down on solutions that keep clothing in circulation as long as possible and reduce apparel waste,” said Liz Hershfield, senior VP, head of sustainability at Madewell. “We are thrilled to partner with thredUp to unveil this store concept to take the first steps toward creating a blueprint for other retailers to follow as they integrate circularity into their business model.”
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The new store is stocked with hundreds of preloved Madewell items sourced from ThredUP, with prices ranging from $10 to $40. It also boasts a tailoring station. Visitors can bring in their own clothes for repair or have clothes that are purchased on-site tailored.
To educate customers and inspire them to extend the life of clothes, stats about fashion waste and steps for creating a circular wardrobe are displayed throughout the space. QR codes at various stations offer a deeper dive into how to buy, wear, care, and pass on used clothes for the good of the planet.
“We’ve designed a store to represent the future of fashion — a circular future in which retailers design for longevity, and consumers shop with resale in mind,” said Erin Wallace, VP of integrated marketing at ThredUp. “Our hope is that visitors will leave inspired and armed with the knowledge they need to take a more sustainable approach to their wardrobes. We believe that retail and resale working together is a necessary next step in achieving our vision of a circular future for fashion.”
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In an effort to further reduce waste, ThredUp and Madewell reused old Madewell tote bags and screen printed over the previous designs. ThredUp clean-out kits are available in-store to help consumers keep clothes in use and out of landfills.