Fashion retailer French Connection has unveiled a take-back service with Thrift+, which lets consumers give a second life to unwanted clothing and receive a discount on future purchases.
French Connection customers can now add a Thrift+ bag to their basket when shopping online before using it to return unwanted goods. Clothing, shoes and accessories from premium and designer brands are the items particularly sought after by Thrift+ shoppers.
Fashion lines from less premium high street brands are also accepted as part of the take-back service, but these must be in “new or excellent condition” according to Thrift+, as they are deemed more difficult to resell.
Thrift+ is an online reseller which will list the items it receives before donating 33% of the sale proceeds to a charity of the consumer’s choice. Those using the take-back service will also receive credit to use on the Thrift+ website, and 10% off their next online order with French Connection.
Items such as underwear, swimwear and children’s or baby clothing are not accepted via the take-back service.
The French Connection x Thrift+ takeback scheme is a UK-only partnership at this stage, but the retailer said it is considering options to expand what it describes as this “circular fashion initiative” globally.
Thrift+ continues to create partnerships with UK retailers, and it recently announced a take-back tie-up with department store chain Fenwick.
Fenwick customers already signed up to a Thrift+ account are encouraged to bag up their unwanted items and take them to Fenwick stores across the UK, where they will receive their discount on future purchases.
The collection service is available at Fenwick’s London Bond Street and Brent Cross stores, as well as its shops in Bracknell, Canterbury, Colchester, Kingston, Newcastle, Tunbridge Wells, and York.
Women’s fashion retailer Aspiga, which has recently opened five shops – four in the south-west of England and one in Chelsea, London – also announced a clothing take-back scheme with Thrift+, last week.
