Zara brings used clothes marketplace to US

Clarence Ford chats with Primedia Digital Content Editor Barbara Friedman about stories that are trending online.

Listen below.

Fast-fashion retailer Zara is joining the 'sustainability' train and bringing a preowned clothing marketplace to the US in October.

"The service, which is available through Zara's stores, its website and a mobile app, aims to extend the life of customers' garments, contribute to the reduction of waste and the consumption of new raw materials," writes https://www.ecotextile.com/.

Zara says customers can buy used clothing on a 'safe platform' facilitated by Zara or donate their used garments to non-profit organisations affiliated with the store.

The marketplace has already rolled out in the United Kingdom and Europe. Consumers on social media are critical about the retailer's 'quality' with some noting that Walmart or Target makes affordable and better quality clothing.

While others noted that 'they are creating a solution for a problem they have created'.

"You talk about sustainability, but you're not creating products that are long-lasting... I don't know which brands are selling truly sustainable items you can wear for the next 20 years."

- Barbara Friedman

"How is this sustainable when most of these fast-fashion items are seasonal? It's thrown away and made of fabric that's coming out of the seams after one season."

- Barbara Friedman

"Whether it's Zara or anyone else; there is a bigger issue here which is: do you need to buy all the clothes you buy? Should we be buying throw-away fast fashion because it's cheap or should we maybe be investing in quality pieces that will last us for 20-30 years?"

- Barbara Friedman

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