REBELLE: an online marketplace for high-quality designer fashion in the second hand sector

The rapid purchase-to-discard ratio of fast fashion and piling up of clothing in landfills, often made from synthetic materials which do not decompose easily. When consumers throw away clothing in the garbage, not only does it waste money and resources, but it can take 200+ years for the materials to decompose in a landfill. During the decomposition process, textiles generate greenhouse methane gas and leach toxic chemicals and dyes into the groundwater and our soil. There is also the unmet potential of clothing which could be resold, and its lifetime extended- as opposed to manufacturing new clothing which requires more energy and water use, and is associated with more carbon emissions. Finally, there are lack of incentives for people to responsibly pass on/resell their unwanted clothing due to the associated costs- be that time or monetary (e.g. shipping).

Rebelle was founded in 2013 in Hamburg but sells globally. The company uses an innovative concept to connect online with offline: Founder Cécile Wickmann organises shopping events with retail stores and brands where customers can buy new items and sell their vintage treasures. This creates wardrobe space and demonstrates a sustainable approach.