We've been building out our Rewind program over the last few months since it's release. And if you haven't heard of it and asking yourself, "what in the world is she talking about?", I'm glad you're here.
This summer we launched Rewind as our trade-in program to take back pre-loved clothing, whether it be our brand or another brand. The goal with this program is to reduced the amount of textiles, specifically clothing, that ends up in landfills each year. In the U.S. alone, the average amount of textile and clothing waste is about 17 million tons; and globally, it's about 92 million. That's a lot of fabric going to waste.
So we wanted to do something about it. Hence, the introduction of our trade-in program and pivoting into a circular model. With as many clothes as there are out there that haven't been worn "into the ground", there's an opportunity to extend their life, as well as the opportunity to be creative in transforming that garment into something new. And the beauty is that it doesn't require more raw materials to be grown or harvested. Let us first dive in and take a look at how our program works, then I'll bring you back around to the value it provides.
Rewind & Redesign
When you visit our Rewind page, you'll find a couple of steps listed to begin your trade-in. But before I even go there, I have to share what's so special about our program. You have the option to trade-in your clothes and receive credit (a gift card) to shop with us anytime or apply towards a redesign. Just like with any gift card, you can give it away, save it, or use it way down the road for something in the future.
It's as easy as setting up an account or logging in with Google. Begin your trade-in by selecting or searching for a garment type (if it's not an Am.A-line original), adding its size, and its color. Once you've done that, you can review the item(s) you've chosen to trade-in. Once you confirm and pay for your shipping label (or drop it off to us), send them off. We'll receive your trade-in and sort through the condition of your items to assign their value. Then, you'll receive your digital gift card to shop with us whenever you like!
Now, here where it gets juicy. Last month, we just introduced the donation option to our program. Why? Because sometimes we just want to let go of what's inside of our closet, as opposed to shopping for more; and that's okay too! That's why we decided to introduce this option. So if you have that bag of donations waiting to go to Salvation Army or Goodwill, reduce your stress by grabbing a label and shipping it over to us. It's our version of the Take-Back Bag, except you don't have to wait for us to send you one.
The setup is very similar to the trade-in. The only differences are that you don't have to tell us what items you're donating or wait for us to sort and send you a gift card. If you're in the area, we can also treat your donation as a drop-off. Soon, we're looking at having strategic drop-off locations with new partners. So be on the lookout.
However you decide to use the program, your pre-loved clothing will be recirculated and given another life, therefore also extending its life. This is the best part for me because it stretches my creativity as a designer to bring you something new from something already existing. Plus, I believe it creates more value and a story to share with others, just like mending and repairing does. So let's start a conversation with our clothing!
That's where the redesign comes into play. How do we create a conversational piece that will have a high emotional value from pre-loved items? Simple. We cut and chop them up (lol)! In all seriousness, I evaluate each item that I'm working with to gauge whether I need to bring in deadstock fabric to use alongside and compliment what's there, or if I can create new design lines within the same fabric parameters already available. Cutting strips has become one of my favorite methods. Usually, the first step is ripping the seams and notions off of the garment to prep it for the next steps, whatever they may be. But I'll leave those details for another time.
If you haven't checked out our Rewind program, be sure to do so today. And if you want to learn more about our circular programs and offerings, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter below.
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