A strategic partnership has been established between industry innovation hub Fashion for Good and Switching Gear, a project set up by Circle Economy.
The main aim of this initiative is to accelerate re-commerce and rental business models within the apparel sector and collaborate with six brands to design and launch pilots of new business models by 2021.
The two organisations have created an ‘Enabling Network’ so as to assist like-minded organisations to collaborate on circular projects with Eileen Fisher, Mud Jeans and Style Lend among the group of initial members.
Through this newly established alliance, Circle Economy and Fashion for Good have aimed to assemble a group of 50 innovative solution providers, brands and rental and re-commerce experts in order to bring out “tangible solutions” to help the fashion industry grow towards circular business models.
Clothing rental, leasing and the re-commerce market being the key to the initiative’s vision, Circle Economy’s project team is currently on-boarding six core brands for the pilot development.
Apart from brands like Eileen Fisher, Mud Jeans and Style Lend; Gibbon, Reflaunt, RePack, Stuffstr, The Next Closet, The Renewal Workshop also joined as the first members of the network.
According to Gwen Cunningham, Program Lead, Circle Economy, “We are very excited to build the Switching Gear 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.
The initiative is supported by C&A foundation and forms part of the organisation’s Bridging the Gap initiative. Douwe Jan Joustra, Head of Circular Transformation, C&A Foundation, stated that, “Working together as a part of the Bridging the Gap initiative, Circle Economy and Fashion for Good can assess the needs of brands and connect them with innovators and experts working to solve the issues preventing the implementation of circular business models.” He also added that this network will be a powerful platform to create and share knowledge about how to implement and give scale to the clothing rent and re-commerce system so as to make fashion a force for good.
Those behind the partnership are looking to work with as many companies seeking a more circular fashion industry.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
