Through this partnership, Circle Economy and Fashion for Good, will establish a powerful, global Enabling Network of over 50 frontrunning circular solution providers and innovators, frontrunning brands and relevant experts who are active players in the space of rental and re-commerce to exchange insights and tangible solutions to move the apparel industry towards circular business models. The Enabling Network shared objectives are to build knowledge, establish networks and create exposure.
Circle Economy has proudly confirmed that the following key players have already joined the Enabling Network as founding members: Eileen Fisher, Gibbon, MUD jeans, Reflaunt, RePack, Stuffstr, Style Lend, The Next Closet, The Renewal Workshop.
Switching Gear is a C&A Foundation supported project that will guide 6 brands on a circular innovation process towards the design and launch of rental and re-commerce business model pilots by 2021. The project is one of the 4 global initiatives supported by the C&A Foundation to ‘Bridge the Implementation Gap in the Apparel Sector’. The Switching Gear Enabling Network will be supported by other organisations that are part of the bridging the gap initiative: LWARB, QSA partners, WRI, WRAP, Forum for the future
Re-commerce, rental, and leasing offer commercial opportunities for brands to innovate their business model, while optimising the useful life of clothes to their full potential and reducing the overall impact of the industry, Circle Economy said in a press release.
"We are very excited to build the Switching Gear Enabling network together with Fashion For Good. We strongly believe that connecting a powerful and active community of brands, solutions providers and experts is key to advancing the practical implementation of circular business models in the market," Gwen Cunningham, circle textiles programme lead, Circle Economy
“C&A Foundation believes that the circular fashion transition will only happen when the industry implements circular business models. That is a huge challenge. We are pleased to be supporting these new partners," Douwe Jan Joustra, head of circular transformation, C&A Foundation. (RR)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India