H&M Embraces Secondhand Retail With ‘Pre-Loved’ Collection

H&M is planning to sell secondhand clothing from its flagship London store.

The Swedish apparel retailer will debut its “Pre-Loved” collection of womenswear Oct. 5, the company said in a news release provided to PYMNTS Wednesday (Sept. 13).

The move comes as H&M and others in the fast-fashion space work to improve their record on sustainability.

“The opportunity to give a second life to garments brings real value to our customers and enables them to explore different ways of engaging in a circular fashion industry,” Henrik Nordvall, H&M’s country manager for the U.K. and Ireland, said in the release.

The global secondhand apparel market is expected to nearly double by 2027, from $177 billion last year to $351 billion in 2027, fueled largely by consumers looking for value, ThredUp, an online consignment and thrift store, said in a report.

“Resale is starting to blossom globally, with many of the largest retailers in the world adopting more circular business models,” ThredUp CEO James Reinhart said in April. “While value continues to be a key driver that motivates consumers to think secondhand first, global climate issues have increased awareness of resale’s potential to reduce fashion’s impact on the environment.”

ThredUp and H&M joined forces in March for an online version of the Pre-Loved store.

“We need to take responsibility for the impact fashion has on climate and the environment,” H&M North America Head of Sustainability Abigail Kammerzell said at the time. “Circular business models can help us reduce and limit this negative impact, while continuing to deliver fashion and style for our customers. With the launch of our first resale model in the U.S. market, we’re taking the next big step in that direction.”

Meanwhile, PYMNTS reported last month that several brands have begun launching repair and recycling services amid pressure to offer more sustainable products and services.

Zara and Uniqlo have both begun offering repairs, as has the H&M-owned Cos, which is collaborating with a startup to help customers fix damaged apparel.

H&M has also launched Close the Loop, an initiative that allows customers to bring their unwanted clothing to in-store recycling bins and receive a coupon for their next purchase. As of the spring, the project had collected more than 155,000 tons of textiles.

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